Vice President Kamala Harris made history on Thursday night as she accepted the Democratic nomination, marking a significant milestone in her rapid rise to become the first Black and Asian woman to lead a major party’s presidential ticket.
One poignant moment captured during her speech was a photo taken by New York Times staff photographer Todd Heisler. The image features Amara Ajagu, one of the vice president’s young grandnieces, watching intently as Harris delivered her address to the convention. For young girls like Ajagu, Harris represents the possibility of seeing someone who looks like them in the highest office in the country.
While Harris chose to wear a dark suit instead of the suffragette white worn by many Democratic women at the convention, the historic significance of the moment was not lost on attendees. Throughout the week, speakers referenced the trailblazers who paved the way for Harris, including former New York Rep. Shirley Chisholm, the first Black woman to run for a major party nomination in 1972, and 2016 Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton.
The photo also highlights the important role Harris’ family played in the convention. Prior to the vice president’s speech, Amara and her younger sister Leela taught the crowd how to pronounce their great-aunt’s name, emphasizing the correct pronunciation as “Comma-La.”
