January 20, 2021, will go down in the pages of history as a monumental day. Kamala Devi Harris became the first female, black, and South Asian Vice President of the United States of America. Born to a Jamaican American father, Donald Harris, and an Indian mother, Shyamala Gopalan Harris, Madame Vice President was sworn in by Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, the US’ first Latina justice. After Harris, Joe Biden was sworn in as the 46th President of the United States of America, becoming the oldest president to take the oath of the Oval office.
Peace and harmony were finally restored at The United States Capitol after the vicious attacks by rioters two weeks ago. The inauguration ceremony hosted by The Presidential Inaugural Committee was not just historic but also a star-studded event, packed with performances by some of the biggest musical celebrities including Lady Gaga, Jennifer Lopez, Demi Lovato, John Legend, and Bruce Springsteen. However, the voice that truly stole the show was that of Kamala Harris and her moving words that made her inauguration speech one of the most powerful speeches ever. ICYMI, here’s what she said:
The Iconic Speech
Kamala Harris’ first tweet as the Vice President of the US said, “Ready to serve”, and it would always remind the world of her hard-fought win. She started her inauguration speech by saying, “Good evening. It is my honor to be here. To stand on the shoulders of those who came before. To speak tonight as your Vice President.”
She reminded everyone once again that the only way to move forward was by overcoming the difficulties and bouncing back stronger and bolder. She said, “In many ways, this moment embodies our character as a nation. It demonstrates who we are. Even in dark times, we not only dream, we do. We not only see what has been, we see what can be. We shoot for the moon, and then we plant our flag on it. We are bold, fearless, and ambitious. We are undaunted in our belief that we shall overcome; that we will rise up. This is American aspiration.”
This is for the first time that a woman has been elected and sworn in as the Vice President of America since the presidential office came into existence more than two centuries ago in 1789! In her speech, Harris not only reminded people of their history but also of the injustices that are being fought for centuries. She said, “In the middle of the civil war, Abraham Lincoln saw a better future and built it with land grant colleges and the transcontinental railroad. In the middle of the civil rights movement, Dr. King fought for racial justice and economic justice. American Aspiration is what drove the women in this nation, throughout history, to demand equal rights. And the authors of the Bill of Rights, to claim freedoms that had rarely been written down before.”
Her empowering speech did not just reflect upon the victories and struggles of the past but also promised a bright future ahead. She said, “A great experiment takes great determination. The will to do the work, and then the wisdom to keep refining, keep tinkering, keep perfecting. The same determination is being realized in America today. I see it in the scientists who are transforming the future. I see it in the parents who are nurturing generations to come, in the innovators and educators, in everyone, everywhere, who is building a better life for themselves, their families, and their communities.”
Harris concluded by encouraging people to do what’s courageous, hard, and good. She said, “This too, is American aspiration. This is what President Joe Biden has called upon us to summon now. The courage to see beyond crisis. To do what is hard, to do what is good, to unite, to believe in ourselves, believe in our country, believe in what we can do together. Thank you, and may God bless America.”
Twitterati Celebrates The Historic Moment
Celebrities including Sushmita Sen, Swara Bhaskar, and Dia Mirza along with many other people from all over the world celebrated this monumental day on social media and hoped for a better, brighter future. This is what they tweeted:
Bollywood Stars Congratulate America
What A Moment!
An Emotional Ride For Many
More Heartwarming Moments From The Inauguration Ceremony
Harris’ victory has broken several barriers for women across the globe and given wings to everyone who dares to dream big. The inauguration ceremony had many other heartwarming moments that truly made every Indian across the world proud and emotional. Take a look:
Fist Bumps
While the former President of America, Donald Trump, did not attend the ceremony and left before it even started, the 44th President of the United States, Barack Obama, attended the inauguration along with Michelle Obama. The fist bumps shared by Harris and the Obamas will always remain one of the best moments from the ceremony for everyone. Take a look:
Showtime
Kamala Harris was escorted to the White House by a band from her alma mater, Howard University, called ‘Showtime’.
Thank you Kamala Harris, for making every Indian across the globe proud! She might be the first of many things, but may she never be the last.
Featured Image: Insider