READ: Duchess Adds Insight to The Hill Article
Kamala Harris's inauguration as the country's next vice president is historic, with Harris becoming the first woman as well as the first Black and South Asian American to hold the position.
But while many hail her swearing-in as a triumph for communities of color across the country, activists and experts emphasize they don't want her ascension toward the top of American politics to be merely symbolic.
To be sure, in terms of the symbolism, Wednesday was momentous.
“She now is the most influential woman in American history, ever,” said Duchess Harris, who teaches modern African American history at Macalester College in Minnesota.
The professor described Inauguration Day as “a moment of tremendous joy” but also “trepidation,” underscoring the current state of the nation.
