'ELLE' Picks Kamala Harris for November Issue Cover
In a candid interview, the Democratic vice presidential nominee speaks about racism and why she remains optimistic.
In a timely and politically conscious move, ELLE Magazine chose Kamala Harris, the Democratic vice presidential nominee, to star on the cover of its November issue. The former attorney general of California, Harris made history in August when she became the first Black and Asian-American woman ever nominated for vice president by a major political party.
In an interview with Ashley C. Ford, Harris revealed that the last legs of her campaign alongside presidential nominee Joe Biden will continue to support “the brilliance of the Black Lives Matter movement.” Though critics are quick to cite Harris’ past as a prosecutor, a line of work seemingly at odds with the current conversation on police reform and the deeply prejudiced criminal justice system, Ford observed that Harris is not ashamed to admit that her views have evolved. “What I hope and pray is that we can get to a point where, through what are undoubtedly difficult conversations, we confront the real history of America. Doing it in a way that is motivated by love, but also is fully honest,” she said.
Despite the looming coronavirus pandemic and the high stakes of the upcoming presidential election, Harris remains optimistic. “Optimism is the fuel driving every fight I’ve been in,” she said. When asked to explain what inspires her dedication to politics, Harris paid homage to late civil rights leader John Lewis.
“The motivation comes from believing in what can be unburdened by what has been. John Lewis, the dearly departed, like many others shed blood on that bridge. Because he really believed in what could be. It will often feel like [we are only] against something, but the motivation that carries us through, with any longevity, is knowing what we’re fighting for.”
Head to the ELLE website to read Kamala Harris’ full interview and take a look at her cover, shot by Inez and Vinoodh.
