With Kamala Harris heading to the White House as number two in the presidential line of succession, I would say the future is female—and the future is NOW.
Women, well *White* women, have been casting their votes for just 100 years—a concept quite astonishing, considering the age of our nation was 144 years old before a woman could formally have her say in a democratic election. It wasn’t for another 45 years, Black women were granted the right to vote. Despite not having the right to vote themselves, several women ran for local, state and federal offices in the late 19th and early 18th centuries. Some— like Susanna Salter and Martha Hughes Cannon—won.
It would take the country 240 years before a woman was nominated by a major party as their presidential candidate. That was Hillary Clinton four years ago. Of course, several women have given it in a whirl in the past couple of hundred years, running independently or representing small third parties, in hopes to be the president-elect. But for some reason, it took the two major parties almost two and a half centuries before realizing, “Yeah, maybe a woman would be a good fit to run our country.”
Kamala Harris shattered the ceiling this year, becoming not only the first woman vice president-elect, but the first woman of color who will become the country’s vice president. Seeing a woman become one of the future leaders of the country at least gave the latter portion of 2020 a sweet finish.
Harris—a woman, a Black woman, a South Asian woman—encompasses the demographics that have been far underrepresented, and quite honestly, ignored by American leaders and those in power over the centuries. This isn’t just a big win for her, but it is for them, too, especially after a year of systematic racism.
During Harris’ first speech as VP-elect, she paid tribute to Black women, while also giving hope and encouragement to little girls who may have watched her speech.
I want to echo what Harris said, as it’s something I cannot agree more with:
“While I may be the first woman in this office, I will not be the last. Because every little girl watching tonight sees that this is a country of possibilities.”
Her quote gives hope to future female politicians; they, too, can take her place. We do have to give credit to the women in the 1800s, 1900s, even 2000s, who ran for office and did not lose their determination and fire. Whether she be Elizabeth Cady Stanton, a pioneer of women’s rights who received just 24 of 12,000 votes in an 1866 election, or whether she be Hilary Clinton, the first woman to be nominated by a major party as their candidate for presidency—Women like them helped Harris get to where she is. As she has been guided by history’s women, Harris will, too, guide girls and women of today and the future to help them achieve their successes.
My hope is the girl who thinks she can’t do something, the girl in school who doubts herself but is still at the top of her class, the woman working full-time and trying her hardest to get through college, or even the woman skeptical about applying for her dream job, telling herself that she’s not qualified—I just hope they all see truly anything is possible when you work for it. I hope her win shows these girls, these women, the future is female, and the future is absolutely right now. Big, good changes are coming.
About the Author
Hello! I’m Kennedy (Nolen) Polanski. I work in the admin office of a Central Illinois non-profit, which focuses on providing an “Island of Safety” to children and supporting families in crises. I’m a big reader, certified camper, *new* Girl Scout troop leader, avid hiker, and mediocre crocheter! (Hit me up for a pot holder.) I also perfected my blueberry pancake recipe during the stay-at-home order— and it’s to die for. When I find a spare minute, I like to share first-hand, comical content on my personal sector of the Internet, thekennedyera.com.
