Wednesday night was Sen.’s time. Kamala Harris to shine at the Democratic National Convention because she assumed the role of the party’s vice president nominated. Before giving her acceptance speech, the California senator received a lift from her family.
A biographical montage of Harris’ family life was presented jointly by her sister, Maya Harris, her niece Meena Harris, and her stepdaughter Ella Emhoff, who called her “Momala, the greatest stepmother in the world.”
“Growing up, the sky helps the poor child who grabbed me,” Maya said, when the montage showed photos of the Harris sisters as young girls who were raised primarily by their single Indian mother, Shyamala Gopalan Harris, a cancer researcher.
“Well, we have your back,” Maya said.
Gopalan married Donald Harris, an Jamaican economist. The couple divorced when Kamala was 5 years old.
Meena Harris praised Kamala as a strong, “fierce” role model for her own two daughters.
“I love you, I admire you, I’m so proud of you, and although Mommy is not here to see her first daughter to step into history,” said Maya Harris, the whole nation will see the values brought up with them with us. ”
Maya Harris played a key role in her sister’s political rise as an adviser to Harris’ successful 2003 bid to become San Francisco’s District Attorney. Maya currently serves as director of the Racial Justice Project for the Northern California chapter of the ACLU.
Maya Harris later served as chair of her sister’s presidential run in 2020, which failed amid reports of conflicts between her and other staff over strategy.
Mea’s daughter, Meena, has set up her own lifestyle brand and recently served in a leadership position for the team for diversity and inclusion for Uber, the ride-healing company that is embroiled in a controversial battle with California regulators over its refusal to hire their drivers. act as employees instead of as contractors.
Maya Harris’ husband, Tony West, has worked specifically for Uber to help with its opposition to California’s bid to classify drivers, which Kamala Harris has publicly supported. “” Mr. West has never lobbied for Sen. Harris, her Senate office or anyone on her campaign on this or any other issue, “an Uber spokesman told The Times in 2019.)
Ella Emhoff is the daughter of Harris’ husband, LA attorney Doug Emhoff, from a previous marriage. Doug Emhoff was a visible but low-key presence on the campaign trail during Harris’ presidency, winning an online fandom for wearing supportive T-shirts and tweeting upright photos of the candidate behind the scenes.
