South Asian and Proud: Kamala Harris Resonates with Indian-American Community

Kamala Harris stated that her presidency would represent a clear departure from the Donald Trump era, especially in terms of foreign policy. "I will not align myself with tyrants and dictators," she asserted.

Boston Brand Media delivers the latest updates. In her acceptance speech for the Democratic nomination, Kamala Harris vowed to resist the influence of authoritarian leaders, implying they have swayed Donald Trump’s foreign policy by playing on his autocratic tendencies. To distinguish herself from Republican frontrunner Trump, Harris is highlighting her dedication to national security, positioning him as the riskier choice. Harris made it clear that her presidency would mark a decisive break from the Trump era, particularly in foreign policy, declaring, "I will not cozy up to tyrants and dictators."

Dr. Sweta Chakraborty, a Climate Surrogate for the Harris campaign, highlighted that Harris's policy approach is grounded in a realistic assessment of threats, both foreign and domestic. Dr. Chakraborty, who has been actively involved in the campaign and attended the Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Chicago, observed that Harris’s message is strongly resonating with Indian-Americans and other minority communities who view her as their leader.

Indian-American Viewpoint: Paraphrase for the Header

Kamala Harris is currently polling slightly ahead of Donald Trump and is expected to gain further momentum following the DNC. Indian-Americans, including myself, are uniting to support her through various initiatives and specialized collaborations. For instance, we’re raising funds through 'South Asians in Climate' after the DNC and in anticipation of the official launch of the 'Harris for President Climate Group' this September. South Asians and climate voters are mobilizing, and as a South Asian climate surrogate, I represent both voter groups that overwhelmingly support Kamala Harris for President," Dr. Chakraborty told NDTV

Born in Oakland, California in 1964, Kamala Harris is the daughter of Donald Harris, who is of Afro-Jamaican descent, and Shyamala Gopalan, who immigrated to the US at 19 to pursue a doctorate in nutrition and endocrinology.

"Having a President with South Asian heritage signifies that South Asian immigrants and their descendants have a recognized place in America. The fact that a daughter of India can reach the highest elected office in the United States demonstrates that the sky is the limit for the Indian diaspora here. Indians in the US, already the highest-earning demographic, will see their status elevated even further, making history for minorities and women more broadly," Dr. Chakraborty said.

The Influence of Usha Vance

However, Harris isn't the only Indian-American making headlines in the US presidential campaign. On the Republican side, Trump's Vice Presidential pick, JD Vance, is married to Usha Vance, who has roots in Vadluru, Andhra Pradesh.

Usha's father, Chilukuri Radhakrishnan, was raised in Chennai before moving to the US for higher studies. Usha grew up in San Diego, California, and met JD Vance at Yale Law School, marrying him in 2014. "Usha Vance and her husband are compromising their morals for power," Dr. Chakraborty claimed. "They once genuinely shared liberal values with friends and classmates at university but have since altered their stances to fit into the conservative party, which they saw as a more straightforward path to power."

‍Kamala Harris vs. Donald Trump: A Clash of Visions for America's Future

Dr. Chakraborty emphasized the clear contrast between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump: while Trump has focused on tax cuts for billionaires and rolling back regulations on corporate polluters, Harris has committed to holding the oil and gas industry accountable, investing in a clean energy economy, and ensuring that climate action benefits all Americans, not just the wealthy elite. When Harris ran for vice president in 2020, her climate plan was even more ambitious than what was ultimately enacted as the Inflation Reduction Act, a landmark piece of climate legislation during Joe Biden's presidency. Now, as she prepares to unveil her comprehensive climate agenda in September, Harris is positioning herself as the 'Climate President' for the United States, Dr. Chakraborty noted.

"As an Indian woman, Harris also represents historically disenfranchised members of American society. She physically contrasts with Biden and symbolizes the rise of women and a future society that is more equitable and fair to all genders and races," Dr. Chakraborty added.

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Source: NDTV‍