Breaking barriers: Pennsylvanians share why Kamala Harris’ presidential bid gives them hope

Pennsylvania women from marginalized communities are finding inspiration in Vice President Kamala Harris’ run for the White House. “I think this is part of that healing process, to have a Black woman potentially be President of the United States.”

Since Sunday, when President Joe Biden announced his exit from the presidential race and threw his support behind Vice President Kamala Harris, a shift in the political climate seemed to take hold. Voters of all ages started to pay attention, reinvigorated by Harris — the first Black, South Asian woman to run for president — potentially facing off against Donald Trump for the presidency. 

“I’ve seen South Korea have a female president, Germany a woman chancellor, and I’m like, ‘What is wrong with the United States?’” said Pennsylvania Sen. Patty Kim (D-Dauphin), who was the first Asian American woman elected to the state House of Representatives in 2012.

Kim said that Harris stepping up and becoming the Democratic candidate just makes sense and is causing more people, including Pennsylvanians, to get their heads back into this important presidential race.

“They’re coming out because they believe in something and it is palpable,” Kim said.

Kadida Kenner has seen it too. As CEO of the New Pennsylvania Project, an organization focused on getting people registered to vote, especially minority communities and the younger generation, she said people of different races, genders, and ages are getting registered and are excited to cast their vote this November now that Harris has launched her campaign.

Kenner is also excited by the new vibes around the Democratic party and personally appreciates the historic nature of Harris’ campaign.

“I turned 50 this year and I never thought I was going to see a Black president in my lifetime,” Kenner, who lives in Chester County, said. “I remember writing my senior thesis on the state of this nation as it relates to race relations and I remember writing as a 17-year-old that I would never see a Black president in my lifetime so the Obama administration shocked me totally and now to see a Black woman potentially at the top of the ticket on a November ballot just blows my mind.”

In a very good way, she said.

“I just know that this is an opportunity for us to protect our rights with an opportunity for a woman who looks like me at the top of the ticket,” said Kenner. “I know this is an opportunity this nation needs. We talk about (how) we want to heal this nation. I think this is part of that healing process, to have a Black woman potentially be President of the United States.”

Not only has Harris’ presidential bid motivated many to register to vote, her career itself has inspired women from marginalized communities to keep climbing up the ladder, including the commonwealth’s first Black woman Speaker of the House, Joanna McClinton.

“I have to go back to the evening that our vice president and President Joe Biden accepted the outcome of the election,” McClinton recalled in an interview with The Keystone. “That was the day I decided that I needed to run for leader.”

On that night, Nov. 7, 2020, Harris spoke in front of thousands of supporters after the election was called for Biden and told the crowd, “I may be the first woman to hold this office, but I won’t be the last.” 

That inspired McClinton to set her sights on rising to a leadership position among Pennsylvania House Democrats. A little more than two years later, she made history when she became the first woman, and second Black person, to ever serve as House Speaker. 

“Listening to her talk about the journey for women in this country and for people of color and how many challenges we’ve had, but not shying away from the moment, it really compelled me,” McClinton said.

Dyneco Gibson, 51, of Chester County, who is the director of Campaigns & Engagement at the New Pennsylvania Project, was shocked and surprised when she heard the news Sunday about Harris. Gibson said she is excited to potentially see a woman in the White House who will fight to protect her reproductive rights. 

“For me, it would mean that the things I have concerns about that would affect my community would be addressed and protected,” Gibson said. “Looking at my daughter, besides the representation part, which is important, in my case… my daughter was conceived by IVF and so basically it concerns me that this choice could be taken away or even eliminated.”