Why Vice President Kamala Harris Wore Purple on Inauguration Day
Written by Ms. Jessica of Power 98
Kamala Harris takes her position as the 49th Vice President of The United States of America, making her the FIRST female and FIRST person of color to ever hold the position. WOW!
Madame Vice President Kamala Harris looked absolutely stunning in her all purple pants suit. But why purple? Well, Vice President Harris is wearing purple to honor Shirley Chisholm.
A headshot of African American educator and U.S. Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm, 1973. Chisholm was the first black woman elected to the U.S. Congress and the first woman to run for president in 1971. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
In 1968, Shirley became the FIRST Black woman elected to the United States Congress serving 7 terms. She is also the FIRST African-American Presidential candidate for a major party’s nomination and the FIRST woman to run for the Democratic party’s presidential nomination. Vice President Harris regularly acknowledges Shirley Chisholm for paving the way for women of color.
“The number of times I’ve heard the word ‘no’—or that something can’t be done—in my lifetime is too many to count. I’m honored to be considered a “first,” but I always think about the people who came before and paved the way for me to get where I am today. From Rosa Parks to Shirley Chisholm to Congressman John Lewis, I stand on the shoulders of so many great men and women before me.” – Vice President Kamala Harris for Harper’s Baazar
