Kamala Harris: 5 Facts You May Not Know About the US Vice President

Vice President Kamala Harris is the 49th Vice President of the United States and a respected politician and lawyer with more than two decades in public service.

Among the highlights of her career was the securing of a $20 billion settlement for Californians whose homes were foreclosed on as Attorney General, as well as a $1.1 billion settlement for students and veterans who were scammed by a for-profit education corporation, according to her profile in the White House's official website.

Moreover, Harris served as a national leader in the marriage equality campaign, defending the Affordable Care Act in court and enforcing environmental laws.

As deputy district attorney in Oakland in the 1990s, she earned a reputation for being tough when she prosecuted cases of gang violence, sexual abuse, and drug trafficking, which helped her establish an impressive political career.

But more than those impressive feats, there are other fascinating things about America's lady Vice President. Here are five interesting facts about US Vice President Kamala Harris that you may not know:

The Meaning of Her Name

The Vice President's name is somewhat uncommon, but it has an interesting meaning. According to a Politico feature, her mother, renowned scientist Shyamala Gopalan Harris, chose the name to tribute to her Indian origins. In India, Kamala means lotus and is another name for the Hindu goddess Lakshmi. In an interview with the Los Angeles Times in 2004, Gopalan believes that "a culture that worships goddesses produces strong women."

She is an Early Riser

Vice President Kamala Harris usually gets off the bed at 6:00. Then she does some exercises for around 30 minutes. Her typical breakfast is a bowl of Raisin Bran with almond milk tea with honey and lemon before starting the day's work schedule.

Kamala's Favorite Books

If you are searching for books to read, perhaps you would like to check out Vice President Kamala Harris' favorite books: Native Son by Richard Wright, The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini, The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan, Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison, and The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis.

She Loves Chucks

Whenever she travels, the lady VP always prefers to wear the Converse Chuck Taylor sneakers. In a past interview with Harper's Bazaar, Harris shared that she is a collector of the vintage basketball shoe, which she believes is "a statement" about the identity of the country.

"I also think it has to do with the fact we all wanna go back to some basic stuff about who we are as a country. Chucks-whatever your background is, whatever language your grandmother spoke-you know, we all at some point or another had our Chucks," she said in the interview.

Her Philosophy

Kamala Harris is surely among the inspiring figures in the world, having a list of historic accomplishments that she was the first to achieve, such as the first Black woman to be elected district attorney in California, the first female attorney general in California, first Indian American senator, and the first Black woman and first Asian American to become Vice President of the United States.

Most likely, her amazing accomplishments may have been driven by a motto imparted to her by her brilliant mother: "You may be the first, but make sure you're not the last."

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Kamala Harris, Vice president, United States, Harris