A tumultuous election season ended with a historic day in Washington, D.C. as Howard alumna Kamala Harris was sworn in as Vice President of the United States. Vice President Harris became the first female, first African-American and first Asian-American to be elected to the position.
“This is a great day for Harris, for Howard and for our country as a whole. It is a great day for the African-American community, the South Asian American community and all American communities. Harris’ ascendence is a powerful symbol of the progress our country has made,” wrote Howard University President Wayne A. I. Frederick in a statement released on Wednesday.
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Frederick went on to discuss Harris’ undergrad days at Howard and how it shaped her career as a public servant.
“From her days as an undergraduate economics and political science student at Howard, it was clear that Harris was bound for greatness. She was singularly gifted at debate and had a hunger for knowledge and information. She combined her personal attributes and strength of character with a Howard education to forge a life dedicated to societal, not personal, advancement.”
Vice President Kamal Harris has arrived
After being sworn in on Wednesday afternoon, it was literally time to go to work. Harris tweeted as much from her governmental account.
She shortly thereafter made her way to the Senate, where she will preside as Vice-President. One of her first official duties was to swear in newly elected Senators Rapheal Warnock and Jon Ossoff from Georgia. Senator Warnock is a graduate of Morehouse College.
Wednesday was a day of significant media coverage for HBCUs in general. Howard’s “Showtime Marching Band” escorted Harris to the White House on Wednesday live on national television. There were lots of references to Tuesday’s virtual celebration that featured performances from several other HBCU marching bands. There was lots of coverage focused on Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated to which Harris belongs. Some of her line sisters from Howard University were a part of national and local coverage throughout the day.
Kamala Harris becomes the 49th Vice-President in United States history. Joe Biden becomes the 46th President in the United States.