Mindy Kaling’s new Instagram post about Kamala Harris’ historic election perfectly captured the power of representation in politics.
The 41-year-old shared a photo of her three-year-old daughter, Katherine, watching Harris on television as she was sworn in as US vice president.
“I was at work, but apparently she said: ‘Is that mommy? It looks like mommy.’ Best compliment I ever got! It matters. Happy Inauguration everyone,” Kaling captioned the post.
The post instantly evoked emotion amongst many of the TV star’s followers who reiterated how important it was to them to see a woman like Harris – born to Indian and Jamaican immigrant parents – elected as vice president.
“Oh how I wished I had someone who ‘looked like Mommy’ on TV while I was growing up. What an incredible day. Sobbing,” one fan wrote.
“Argh I cried!!! As an immigrant, I am so proud that my toddler daughter will grow up in a country where her possibilities are truly limitless. Cheers to women like you and Madam Vice President who shatter glass ceilings every day!” penned another.
One fan put it simply, “Representation matters”.
As Harris was officially sworn in as the vice president of the United States on Wednesday local time, it was a historic moment especially for women of colour.
As reported by HuffPost US reporter Sanjana Karanth, the 56-year-old’s inauguration marks the first time that either a woman, a Black American or an Asian American has become vice president of the United States. Harris has called herself “a proud American” whose Black and Indian heritages “are of equal weight in terms of who I am.”
Biden Inauguration
The former Democratic senator took the oath of office alongside President Joe Biden, on an Inauguration Day that looked very different from previous ones thanks to the coronavirus pandemic and concerns about extremist right-wing riots.
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