The winter wind induced a flutter in a brand new flag hanging excessive above metropolis corridor in Oakland, California, on Wednesday morning, because the Bay Space celebrated the historical past being made by one in every of its personal.
Oakland native Kamala Harris on Wednesday was sworn in because the US vice-president, changing into the primary lady in American historical past and the primary lady of African American and south Asian descent to take up the place.
Harris was born in Oakland and lived in neighboring Berkeley, the place her dad and mom studied on the College of California, Berkeley, till she was 12 years previous. She served as San Francisco district legal professional, and California legal professional common, earlier than changing into the state’s junior senator.
Harris has incessantly cited her experiences rising up within the Bay Space as foundational in her political profession, together with being bussed into wealthier white colleges as a part of an integration program. On Wednesday, residents of the area proudly watched her ascend to one of many highest workplaces within the land.
An Oakland-Scranton “Unity” flag, designed by Oakland artist Favianna Rodriguez and Ryan Hnat from Joe Biden’s residence city of Scranton, Pennsylvania, was hoisted into the heavy gusts the day earlier than the inauguration.
The Oakland mayor Libby Schaaf additionally hung the flag outdoors her residence within the hills because the inauguration celebration continued on the opposite facet of the nation. “Congrats my buddy Kamala Harris!” Schaaf wrote on Twitter. “Oakland is proud past phrases. First Black Lady & Asian Lady VP. Daughter of Immigrants & Daughter of Oakland. You make us proud to be People once more.”
It is simply shifting {that a} Black and Indian lady was born at Oakland Kaiser like I used to be, grew up within the flats close to San Pablo Avenue like I did, in the identical closely Black and Indian district I did, and bought bussed up to a college within the hills like I did, goes to the White Home
— Darrell Owens (@IDoTheThinking) January 20, 2021
Native companies additionally commemorated the event. Native Meals Adventures, a meals tour firm, boxed and offered meals that commemorate Harris’s heritage, and included a regionally made cornbread combine, a garam masala spice mix from Oaktown Spice Store, and a coupon for waffles from Harris’s buddy Derreck Johnson, the proprietor of House of Rooster & Waffles.
Oakland chef Robert Dorsey, who went to the identical elementary college as Harris, deliberate to serve one in every of her favorites – seafood gumbo – however he’s now calling it “Democracy gumbo”.
Tony Evans and his 15-year-old granddaughter Dy’mond of East Oakland have been overcome with emotion whereas watching Oakland native @KamalaHarris be sworn in as the primary Black, South Asian feminine Vice President. Evans met Harris whereas working in Georgia as a ballot employee @sfchronicle pic.twitter.com/AglLQodAfM
— Jessica Christian (@jachristian) January 20, 2021
Performers from greater than two dozen native arts organizations ready a program titled “Oakland Salutes”, celebrating the Oakland native. The prerecorded movies included socially distanced harmonies from the Piedmont East Bay Kids’s Choir, performances from the Oakland Asian Cultural Heart and the Oaktown Jazz Workshop, and spoken dedications from native officers.
“I’m standing in entrance of an oak tree, as a result of it’s a image of Oakland, in addition to a logo of power, knowledge and endurance,” the orchestra’s music director, Michael Morgan mentioned at the beginning of the streamed present. “These are all qualities all of us affiliate with the native daughter of Oakland, Kamala Harris.”
In the present day, a daughter of Oakland turned the girl who shattered glass ceilings, impressed ladies and ladies world wide, and made historical past. Congratulations, Vice President @KamalaHarris.
— Alex Padilla (@AlexPadilla4CA) January 20, 2021
Harris will even have the ability to showcase her hometown delight on the White Home, because of a present from the Warriors. Stephen Curry, a star from the basketball staff that performed in Oakland from 1971 till final yr when the staff moved to San Francisco, introduced Harris together with her personal jersey – No 49, as a result of she is the forty ninth vice-president – and “Madame VP” in block letters throughout the highest.
In a shifting tribute, a video from the staff contains a younger lady named Stella donning the outsized jersey as she thinks concerning the alternatives forward. “I really like that Kamala seems to be like me and I can do something,” she says, as she dances and skips by way of the town.
Kari Paul contributed to this report