"The Ultimate Test: Can Kamala Harris Smash Through Centuries of Sexism and Racism to Make History?"

The Democratic Party of the United States (US) will take a historic gamble if it chooses Vice President Kamala Harris as its presidential candidate in the upcoming November election, following President Joe Biden's withdrawal from the presidential nomination.

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Harris' candidacy is seen as a gamble on whether Black women can overcome a long history of sexism and racism to defeat Donald Trump as the Republican presidential nominee.

As reported by Reuters. 

Monday (22/7/2024), Biden on Sunday (21/7) announced that he was withdrawing from the Democratic Party's presidential nomination, while continuing to serve as US President for the remainder of his term. 

He also expressed his support for Harris to become a candidate for US president.Biden's decision came after weeks of pressure from Democratic lawmakers and his party's top donors who feared the 81-year-old president lacked the mental and physical stamina to win and serve another four years.

This historical record makes black voters in the US wonder whether Harris is able to break through the toughest obstacles in US politics?

“Will race and gender become an issue? Absolutely,” said US political strategist LaTosha Brown, who is also a co-founder of the Black Voters Matter Fund.

Not only these two things, Harris will still face another big challenge if she is elected as the Democratic Party's official presidential candidate, namely that she only has three months to campaign and unite the Democratic Party and the donors behind it.

Even so, many Democrats are enthusiastic about Harris' chances. Harris, 59, who is two decades younger than Trump, has been a vocal supporter of abortion rights – an issue that appeals to young voters and the Democratic Party's progressive base. 

Her supporters argue that Harris will capitalize on those voters, consolidating support among Black voters and delivering sharp debate speeches to highlight Trump's criminal convictions.Brown said Harris' candidacy would provide a contrast to Trump and his running mate, Sen. J.D. Vance – both are white male Republicans.

“To me, it reflects America's past. "He (Harris-ed) reflects the present and future of America," he said.But despite praise in recent weeks for her steadfast support of Biden, some Democrats are concerned about Harris' wobbling in her first two years in office. 

the shortness of the 2020 presidential campaign, and – perhaps most importantly – the weight of America's long history in elections president. racial and gender discrimination.

"The US is reluctant to make women its leaders"

Americans elected Barack Obama, the first and only black president. 

in the 2008 presidential election. The only woman to run for president from a major party in the US, Hillary Clinton, suffered a shock defeat to Trump in the 2016 election.

Supporters of Harris, who is the first woman and the first Black and South Asian person to serve as US vice president. 

argue that Harris has overcome unfair attacks on her race and gender and is now ready to face greater attacks. “America has a history of racism, sexism, so I'm sure that will be a factor in this conversation, a factor in her campaign,” said former Harris aide Jamal Simmons.

But, Simmons said, there are other benefits, as Black voters will be encouraged if Harris is positioned as a leading candidate in the Democratic presidential race, and female voters who regret not voting for Clinton in 2016 will support her as well.

“It's also true that she will benefit from her race and gender, so many African Americans will support her candidacy,” he said.

However, the Director of the Women's and Gender Studies Program at Georgetown University, Nadia Brown, warned that despite the increasing number of black political leaders. 

there is still a reluctance to accept women or girls in major leadership roles in the US.

"Patriarchy is a very deadly drug. With racism, we know that, we can stop it. A sentiment we don't see expressed as clearly is the real reluctance to have black women in particular as leaders," he said.

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