After 235 years, America still isn’t ready for President Kamala Harris

Kamala Harris Unlikely To Break Male President Trend

The big question on everyone's mind in America right now is who will take over as the Democratic nominee for president if Joe Biden decides to resign. Many believe the most likely candidate to step up is Vice President Kamala Harris.

However, her chances of winning would be extremely difficult, based on American history and current voter surveys.

The reason why she may not be chosen is not because she lacks the necessary qualifications. The president stated in a press conference on Thursday that she is certainly qualified. In addition, she is much younger than Biden and used to the pressures of holding public office, so she would probably have the vitality and endurance needed to campaign and fulfill a four-year term as president. Furthermore, she has made history as the first female, African American, and South Asian American vice president. That's the dilemma.

Survey after survey indicates that there is only a small difference in support between Biden and ex-President Donald Trump.

Think about this: Many American voters support Trump, who has been found guilty of a crime and whose discriminatory, sexist, and aggressive language was extreme before, during, and after his presidency. This was often seen in his political decisions.

If a large number of voters are truly thinking about voting for him, is there a possibility for Harris to win, considering she stands in opposition of many of Trump's beliefs?

"I believe that she doesn't," stated Jatia Wrighten, PhD, who is an assistant professor of political science at Virginia Commonwealth University, during our conversation.

"In today's political environment, as well as throughout the history of the nation's political sphere, Americans have been reluctant to fully back Black women on a national scale," Wrighten remarked.

Meet Shirley Chisholm, the first African American woman to be elected to Congress and the first African American to run for President under a major party in 1972. Despite her successful career representing New York's 12th congressional district and her work on important legislation, such as expanding food assistance programs for single mothers, her presidential bid was not taken seriously by many.

Journalists, mainly Caucasian men, criticized her looks and disregarded her campaign for president as "women interfering." Supporters who were expected to back Chisholm, such as feminist icon Gloria Steinem and civil rights activist Rev. Jesse Jackson, ended up backing her rival, George McGovern. Ultimately, she only received 152 delegate votes at the Democratic National Convention that year, and the party chose McGovern as their nominee.

Recently, Stacey Abrams from Georgia faced similar challenges as Shirley Chisholm when running for the highest office in her state as a Black woman.

Maybe while the public and the press focused on her efforts to fight against voter suppression in Georgia, Abrams' critics and the media chose to focus on irrelevant details, showing a bias that unfairly targets Black women in politics and holds them to a different standard than white candidates.

"They discussed Abrams' marital status, her body size, her skin color, as well as evaluating the typical criteria for any candidate such as her qualifications, education, and eloquence," Wrighten explained. Adding to this complexity is the reality that Chisholm and Abrams, both dark-skinned and with curly hair, do not fit the traditional American beauty standards that are based on European features like fair skin, straight hair, a slender nose, and a slim body.

Regarding Black women in American politics, Wrighten argued that being overweight, having darker skin, and natural hair are all factors that should not matter, yet they do. Black women candidates are unfairly held to a beauty standard that others are not.

The negative attitudes that hurt Chisholm's bid and Abrams' campaign for governor are still present in America and could make it difficult for Harris to win, according to Wrighten.

In the country, Black women face a great deal of negative portrayal in the media. There is a lot of unfair treatment and harmful stereotypes that specifically target Black women. Additionally, there is still a belief that women are not suited for leadership positions.

One possible challenge Harris may face if she attempted to move from Vice President to President: "I believe longstanding Democrats might resist the idea of [Harris] running; there's a feeling that you need to earn your place and gain experience," Wrighten explained.

In Virginia state politics, the establishment Democrats supported Terry McAuliffe's 2021 bid for governor, even though Jennifer McClellan and Jennifer Carol Foy, two Black women with impressive resumes and public support, also had strong potential to become the state's first Black female governor. Despite their bold ideas and experience in the statehouse, McAuliffe, a former governor and prominent figure in Democratic politics, received the party's backing. Ultimately, McAuliffe lost to Governor Glenn Youngkin.

Additionally, there are still lasting impacts from the time when Obama was in charge that could potentially harm Harris' chances of becoming the leader of the country. When the first Black president was elected, it brought about both positive and negative consequences. On one hand, there was talk of a "post-racial era" with increased opportunities and advancements for groups that have historically been marginalized, especially Black Americans. On the other hand, this progress led to a backlash from the group that has historically held power and oppressed others, white Americans.

According to historian Peniel Joseph, the country's racial atmosphere became more tense after Obama's presidency. The tea party made racially charged criticisms of the president's policies, while the 'birther' movement claimed Obama was not a citizen, showcasing more obvious racist beliefs.

During Obama's time as president, it was clear that the country was changing in terms of its demographics and values. This led to a feeling among some white Americans that Black people were receiving advantages they hadn't earned, according to Wrighten. This resulted in a backlash against these perceived privileges.

All of this thinking may not matter in the end, as Biden once again said on Thursday that he plans to continue running for president, even though polls show Harris might have a better chance against Trump. If Harris does end up becoming the chosen candidate, she will face many challenges ahead.

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"I believe she will still be objectified," Wrighten stated, discussing the baseless gossip that came out shortly after Biden revealed Harris as his VP in 2020. "There will persist to be this belief that she did not deserve what she achieved."

Out of the 193 member countries of the United Nations, 59 have chosen women to lead their governments. This number has been increasing consistently since 1990. However, it is unlikely that the upcoming presidential election in November will change the tradition in America, as all presidents since George Washington in 1789 have been men.

"I believe that the United States needs to thoroughly examine itself when considering who is fit to lead and the qualities they possess," stated Wrighten.

I believe there is plenty of proof to show that it's time for some deep reflection, on a countrywide level. The truth is, only the people of America have the power to change the country into one that would truly back and empower Harris, or any other woman or woman of color, to become president. However, it doesn't seem like we're in a mindset for self-reflection at the moment.

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