VP Kamala Harris' sister full speech at 2024 DNC (Aug. 22, 2024)

Summary

In this heartfelt speech, the speaker fondly remembers their mother, Dr. Shyamala Gopalan Harris, a trailblazing civil rights activist and scientist who immigrated to America from India. They recount her journey and the values she instilled in her children, emphasizing the uniquely American dream of overcoming odds to achieve success. The speaker passionately endorses Kamala Harris, highlighting her resilience, optimism, and commitment to unity and progress, positioning her as a leader who can uplift and unite the nation.

Takeaways

• 🌟 Shyamala Gopalan Harris was a trailblazer who defied odds and defined herself.
• 🎓 She emigrated from India to America at 19 to pursue education and built a life here.
• 🔬 Shyamala was a civil rights activist, scientist, and a devoted mother.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 She raised her children, Kamala and the speaker, to believe in their potential and to be authors of their own stories.
• 🌱 The story of Shyamala and Kamala represents the American dream and the pursuit of freedom and potential.
• 💪 Kamala Harris has fought for freedom and potential for all, understanding the struggles of being underestimated.
• 🔋 Kamala's presence has created electricity, optimism, and joy across the nation.
• 🤝 Kamala rejects divisiveness and believes in unity, seeing promise and fostering connection.
• 🏆 Her success is measured not just by winning but by lifting others up in the process.
• 👩‍💼 The speaker wishes Shyamala could see Kamala's nomination and urges everyone to work towards electing a leader who sees potential in everyone.

Q & A

Who is the speaker in the script?

The speaker is Maya Harris, the sister of Kamala Harris.

Why did Shyamala Gopalan come to America in 1958?

Shyamala Gopalan came to America to pursue an education.

What was Shyamala Gopalan's profession?

Shyamala Gopalan was a civil rights activist and a scientist.

How did Shyamala Gopalan influence her daughters?

Shyamala raised her daughters to believe they could be and do anything, and to be the authors of their own stories.

What is the significance of the American story mentioned in the script?

The American story signifies the shared desire for freedom and the potential to fulfill one's potential, regardless of individual histories and struggles.

What challenges does Kamala Harris understand from her own experiences?

Kamala Harris understands the challenges of being underestimated, being the underdog, and overcoming odds.

How does Kamala Harris view the current divisive times?

Kamala Harris rejects divisiveness and focuses on the promise and connection, aiming to move forward rather than being dragged back to the past.

What is Kamala Harris's approach to leadership according to the script?

Kamala Harris's leadership approach is about lifting up and bringing along others, focusing on collective success beyond just winning elections.

What does the speaker wish for her mother in relation to the current event?

The speaker wishes her mother could be present to see Kamala's achievements and to be proud of her.

What is the ultimate call to action presented in the script?

The call to action is to elect Kamala Harris as the leader who sees potential in everyone, cares for all, and fights for everyone, as the next president of the United States.

Outlines

00:00

🌟 Introduction to Shyamala Gopalan Harris

The speaker begins by greeting Chicago and introduces Shyamala Gopalan Harris, a 19-year-old from India who moved to America in 1958 to pursue her education and build a life. She is described as a civil rights activist, scientist, and a devoted mother to her two daughters. Shyamala is portrayed as a trailblazer who defied the odds and defined herself. The speaker's mother, Shyamala, had high expectations for her children and instilled in them the belief that they could achieve anything. The story emphasizes the American dream and the shared desire for freedom and fulfillment of potential. The speaker highlights Kamala's life as a fight for freedom and her ability to overcome underestimation and adversity. The speech concludes with a call for unity and progress, urging the audience to support Kamala Harris as the next president of the United States.

Keywords

💡Trailblazer

A trailblazer is a person who is among the first to do something, often pioneering a new path or breaking new ground in a particular field. In the context of the video, Shyamala Gopalan Harris is referred to as a trailblazer, highlighting her as a pioneering figure who defied the odds and defined herself, which is a central theme of the video. Her journey from India to America and her various roles as a civil rights activist, scientist, and mother exemplify the concept of trailblazing.

💡Civil Rights Activist

A civil rights activist is someone who advocates for the rights and equal treatment of all people under the law, regardless of race, gender, or other factors. Shyamala Gopalan Harris is described as a civil rights activist, indicating her involvement in social justice movements and her commitment to equality. This aspect of her identity is integral to the video's narrative, as it shows her influence on her children's values and aspirations.

💡Underestimated

To be underestimated is to be judged as less capable or valuable than one actually is. The script mentions that Kamala Harris knows what it's like to be underestimated, suggesting that she has faced skepticism or doubt about her abilities. However, the video's message is one of overcoming these underestimations and achieving success despite them, which is a powerful theme of resilience and determination.

💡Underdog

An underdog is a person or team that is considered unlikely to win or succeed, often because they are less favored or have fewer resources. The video portrays Kamala Harris as an underdog who has beaten the odds, emphasizing her ability to succeed despite being counted out by others. This concept is used to inspire and motivate, showing that success is possible even against the odds.

💡Optimism

Optimism is a hopeful and positive attitude towards the future or the outcome of events. The video speaks of Kamala Harris creating 'so much optimism' throughout the nation, indicating her ability to inspire hope and a positive outlook. This keyword is central to the video's message of looking forward to a better future and the potential for positive change.

💡Connection

Connection refers to the relationship or link between people or things. In the video, Kamala Harris is said to foster connection, suggesting that she works to bring people together and create unity. This is contrasted with those who want to divide or separate, making 'connection' a key concept in the video's theme of unity and collective progress.

💡Fulfill Potential

To fulfill one's potential means to reach the highest level of one's abilities or achieve one's goals. The video emphasizes the idea that everyone has the potential to achieve great things, and it is a central theme that Kamala Harris fights for each person's freedom to fulfill their potential. This concept is used to inspire and motivate, suggesting that with the right support and opportunities, anyone can succeed.

💡Freedom

Freedom, in this context, refers to the state of being free to act, express oneself, and make choices without undue external control or interference. The video speaks of a 'fervent desire to be free' and to 'fulfill our God-given potential,' indicating that freedom is a core value and a driving force behind the pursuit of personal and collective goals.

💡Divide

To divide means to separate or cause disagreement among people. The video mentions that some are trying to divide and separate, which is presented as a negative force against unity and progress. The concept of division is used to highlight the importance of coming together and overcoming differences to achieve common goals.

💡Leadership

Leadership refers to the ability to guide, influence, and inspire others towards achieving goals. The video calls for Kamala Harris's leadership in a historic moment, emphasizing her role in seeing the potential in others, caring for all, and fighting for everyone. This keyword is central to the video's message of the type of leadership needed to navigate challenging times and bring about positive change.

💡Democratic Nominee

A democratic nominee is a candidate chosen by a political party to run for a public office, typically through a democratic process. In the video, Kamala Harris is referred to as the 'democratic nominee,' indicating her status as the chosen candidate for the presidency. This term is used to rally support and emphasize her role as the leader who will represent and fight for the values of the people.

Highlights

A 19-year-old from India, Shyamala Gopalan, arrived in America in 1958 to pursue education and build her life.

Shyamala Gopalan was a civil rights activist, scientist, and devoted mother.

Shyamala was a trailblazer who defied odds and defined herself.

Shyamala raised her children to believe they could be and do anything.

The power of knowing and showing one's true self was emphasized by Shyamala.

Kamala and her sibling were encouraged to be the authors of their own stories.

The story of Shyamala's journey and her aspirations for her children is a distinctly American story.

Despite different histories and struggles, the desire for freedom and fulfillment unites Americans.

Kamala's life has been dedicated to fighting for freedom and potential for all.

Kamala knows the experience of being underestimated and overcoming the odds.

Kamala's leadership is seen as a source of electricity, optimism, and joy for the nation.

Kamala's leadership is needed in a time when some are trying to divide the nation.

Kamala rejects divisive views and sees promise where others see darkness.

Kamala fosters connection and progress, rather than dragging the nation back to the past.

Kamala understands that the measure of success is not just winning but who is lifted up in the process.

The speaker wishes their mother could witness Kamala's nomination and her pride in her daughter's work.

Shyamala would urge everyone to work towards electing a leader who sees potential in all and fights for everyone.

Kamala Harris is presented as the democratic nominee and the next president of the United States.

Transcripts

Hello, Chicago.

In 1958

a 19 year old from India

left the only country she'd ever known

to chart her own path in America.

She came here to pursue an education,

but she stayed here to build a life. Her name

was Doctor

Shyamala Gopalan

Harris.

But we called her mommy.

Mommy was so many things to so many people, a civil rights activist, a scientist,

a devoted mother to her two little girls. But most of all mommy was a Trailblazer

who defied the odds and defined herself.

And when it came to

Kamala and me,

mommy had great expectations for us, but she had even greater expectations of us.

She, she raised us to believe that we could be

and do

anything

and we believe Dirk,

you see,

Mommy understood

the power

and the possibility

that come with knowing

and showing who you truly are.

She,

she knew we could be the authors of our own

stories just as she'd been the author of her own

mommy's journey

and the opportunity that she wanted for Kamala and me.

That's a distinctly American story.

We may all have different histories,

different struggles

or different perspectives.

But what binds us together

is the fervent desire to be free

to fulfill our God given potential.

Kamala's entire life has been about fighting for each of us to have that freedom.

And like so many Americans, Kamala knows what it's like to be underestimated

and be counted out.

She knows what it's like to be the underdog

and yet still beat the odds.

And now

she has created

so much electricity,

so much optimism,

so much joy throughout the nation.

And it is why we need her leadership in this historic moment.

We are living in a time

when some

are trying to divide us

to separate us in ways that make it difficult for us to come together.

Well, look,

my sister rejects that view

where others push darkness.

Kamala sees promise

where others feel detachment.

Kamala foster's connection,

where others want to drag us back to the past.

My sister says, hold up now

we are not going back

because Kamala understands

we have so much more in common than what separates us.

She knows the measure of our success isn't just winning an election.

It's about who we bring along and lift up in the process.

And so as I look out at all of you today

and take in this incredible moment,

I so wish that mommy could be here tonight.

I can just see her

smiling

saying

how proud she is of Kamla

and then

without missing a beat,

she say that's enough. You got work to do.

She would tell all of us

to roll up our sleeves and get to work

to elect a leader who sees the potential in each of us,

a leader who cares for all of us,

a leader who fights for every one of us, our democratic nominee, my big sister,

the next president of the United States, Kamala Harris.