Today, the US Vice President Kamala Harris used a strong word while giving advice to young Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders on how to break barriers.
During a conversation with actor and comedian Jimmy O. Yang, Harris was asked about being the first vice president of Asian descent and how her background shapes her leadership. Harris, whose mother was from India and father from Jamaica, is also the first woman vice president.
In her response, Harris encouraged young people to stay confident when they enter spaces where they might feel different. She pointed out that sometimes people will help them along the way, but other times they’ll need to push through barriers themselves.
Her use of the strong language garnered applause and laughter from the audience, though she jokingly apologised for it afterward.
While it’s not uncommon for politicians to use profanity, Harris typically avoids it in public. The conversation took place at the annual Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies Legislative Leadership Summit and was streamed live on the White House website.
Later in the day, Harris, along with President Biden and actor Lucy Liu, attended a reception in the White House Rose Garden to celebrate May as Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Both Liu and Biden praised Harris’s historic election and highlighted the importance of these communities in America’s growth and diversity.
Biden, in a light-hearted moment, introduced himself as working for Kamala Harris, acknowledging her significance as the first female Black and Asian vice president.
