African American Women’s Path to the Oval Office: A Case Study of Kamala Harris

Abstract

This dissertation wasconducted to explore how African American womenwereabused, discriminated, and mistreated in the United States of America, and how certain female figures and the Civil RightsMovementchanged the role of women and gave them more importance and equality in the social and politicalstatus of Americausing the post-colonialresearchmethod. The dissertation alsodemonstrated the personal background, careerpath, and the strategiesthathelped Kamala Harris, the 49th Vice President of the United States become the highest-rankingAfrican-American female figure and heraccomplishmentsafterreaching the Oval Office by using the biographical and feministhistoriographyresearchmethods. The dissertation alsoanswered the question of whethershebecame an inspiration for otherwomenlikeshewasinspired by former femaleleading figures such as hermotherShyamalaGopalan, Shirley Chisholm, and somanyothers, especiallyafter the criticismshereceivedaftertwoyears of serving as the Vice Presidentusing the descriptive and politicaldiscourseanalysisresearchmethods. This studyfoundthatdespite the barriersthatAfrican American womenfaced in general, theywere able to lead the nation and overcome obstacles and achievesuccess in politics, and the main exampleis the election of Kamala Harris to the Vice Presidency and thenbecoming an inspiration for future generations in the politicalfield of the United States of America.