Kamala Harris becomes the first woman elected as vice president of the United States

Joe Biden may be the next President of the United States, but Kamala Harris made history by becoming the first woman elected as Vice President.

Women may not have broken the biggest glass ceiling in the United States just yet, but the results of the 2020 election have brought them that much closer to doing so. Joe Biden is slated to become the 46th president of the United States, but Kamala Harris is the one truly making history with this win. When the two are inaugurated in January, Harris will officially become the first woman to hold the role of vice president. And no matter how you feel about her political stances, that is a huge development — and one women everywhere should be celebrating.

Harris isn’t just the first woman to become vice president either; she’s also a woman of color, making her victory that much more monumental. The daughter of immigrants from Jamaica and India, she’ll become the first Black woman of South Asian descent to hold the title.

And Harris honored all of the women who made her victory possible during her speech last night,  highlighting how they “have paved the way for this moment tonight.” She went on to specifically address and thank “Black women who are often too often overlooked, but so often prove they are the backbone of our democracy.” She went on to say:

"“Tonight I reflect on their struggle, their determination, and the strength of their vision to see what can be unburdened by what has been. I stand on their shoulders. What a testament it is to Joe’s character, that he had the audacity to break one of the most substantial barriers that exist in our country and select a woman as his vice president.”"

Harris added, “While I may be the first woman in this office, I will not be the last.” It was a powerful and thrilling moment for all the women who have hoped to see themselves reflected through their government over the years, and it sparked hope that more young girls will actively seek out positions of power.

Celebrations cropped up across the nation yesterday following Biden and Harris’ projected win. The excitement of the past 24 hours has been palpable — but that’s what happens when people come together to make history.