7 insightful quotes from Kamala Harris’ memoir that offer insight into her life

When Kamala Harris published her memoir “The Truths We Hold” in 2019, she revealed a story of the American dream that represented the best of what was possible in this country – a young woman who was born into humble circumstances, continued her education, and… Ambitious career path to become a history-making District Attorney, Attorney General and U.S. Senator.

Now in 2024, Harris’ best-selling book offers relevant insights into the life and mindset that have brought the now-presidential candidate this far, and explains how she might approach leading the country in the future.

#1. The quote about how she helps an innocent woman get out of prison.

“I watched and listened as he reviewed her case and waited for him to give the order. Then with one blow of the hammer she was free. She was able to go home to her children in time for dinner… It was a pivotal moment in my life. It was the recognition that even at the margins of the criminal justice system, there was an extraordinary amount at stake, and a deeply human one.”

In this portion of the book, Kamala Harris recalls her first summer internship as a law student at the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office, where an innocent woman was arrested during a drug raid on a Friday. She was a mother of young children and would be stuck in jail for the weekend if no one intervened. Harris pleaded with the clerk to review the woman’s case immediately, and she was sent home free. It would be emblematic of Kamala Harris’ goal of using her career as a lawyer to uphold justice.

#2. The quote about how attending an HBCU changed her life.

“That was the beauty of Howard. Each signal told students that we could be anything—that we were young, talented, and black, and that we should not let anything stand in the way of our success. Campus was a place where you didn’t have to be confined to another person’s chosen box. At Howard you could come as you were and leave as the person you wanted to be. There were no wrong decisions.”

Here, Kamala Harris reflects on the impact of attending Howard University in Washington, DC. The historic HBCU provided her with a dynamic learning playground where she ran for freshman class president, joined the debate team, and got involved with Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated while also working part-time jobs. The hustle Harris exhibited at Howard led her to pursue internships in politics and then pursue a law degree at UC Hastings School of the Law, now known as UC Law San Francisco.

#3. The quote about how her mother raised her to be a proud black woman while respecting her Indian heritage.

“My mother understood very well that she was raising two black daughters. She knew that her adopted homeland would view Maya and me as black girls, and she was determined to ensure that we would grow up to be confident, proud black women.”

Kamala Harris refuses to make bad decisions about her heritage. In this passage, she explains how her mother, Shamala, gave her an Indian name and raised her to appreciate Indian culture while respecting her blackness. Kamala’s mother was committed to surrounding her with strong Black women role models, such as her neighbors and teachers, who would ensure she knew Black history and understood the struggle for African Americans for equal rights in the United States

#4. The quote about why she chose to become a prosecutor despite racism in the criminal justice system.

“I knew full well that equal justice was a right. I knew that the force of the law was applied unevenly, sometimes intentionally. But I also knew that what was wrong with the system didn’t have to be an incontrovertible fact. And I wanted to help change that.”

Kamala Harris takes time in this section of her book to explain how prosecutors have used their roles to harm people, particularly Black people. But she continues to cite prosecutors who have done good in the world by prosecuting Ku Klux Klan members, bad politicians and corrupt businessmen. She also points out that the power of a prosecutor was used to protect the Freedom Riders during the Civil Rights Movement. Harris firmly believed that despite the bad, she could be a force for good.

#5. The quote about how she asserts herself when faced with difficult decisions as a leader.

“Difficult decisions are difficult precisely because the outcome is not clear. But your gut feeling will tell you whether you are on the right path. And you will know what decision to make.”

This section of the book focuses on Kamala’s time as California’s attorney general in 2011, when families suffered from home foreclosures and predatory bank lending. Harris was under a lot of pressure to quickly reach an agreement with the banks, but instead decided to dig in and aim for a much bigger outcome. She created a task force that got $18 billion out of the banks and led to a California Homeowners Bill of Rights.

#6. The quote about how she always saw the pain of people struggling to make it – even before she became vice president.

“When I wake up in the middle of the night with a thought on my mind, I remember that in countless households across the country, someone else is also wide awake… I imagine most of them are asking themselves questions about their biggest fears: Can I give my children a good life? …The American people have not given up on the American dream. But how can you dream if you can’t sleep at night?”

Here, Kamala Harris talks about the struggles of the American middle class that she witnessed as a senator and the many letters she received from suffering constituents. Harris grew up in a middle-class family, the daughter of a single, divorced mother. Although her book was written in 2019, Harris said she was already experiencing a “cost of living crisis” that was making it difficult for the average American to make ends meet. She had a vision of economic growth that gives people more to take home after their hard work, and holding all greedy exploitative forces – like for-profit colleges – responsible for taking people’s hard-earned money.

#7. The quote about what she has learned through her work in politics and observing history.

“Not all progress is gradual or linear. Sometimes it just goes from one plateau to another. Sometimes we fall tragically behind. Sometimes we take a step forward and achieve things beyond what we thought possible. I believe it is our job to provide the power that will take us to a higher level.”

Towards the end of her book, Kamala Harris reflects on the victories and struggles she experienced along the way as District Attorney, Attorney General, and United States Senator. The book was written before she was elected vice president, but it is almost prophetic as there would be many trials after its publication. These include the COVID-19 pandemic, the fall of Roe v. Wade, the end of affirmative action, and the deaths of scores of unarmed black Americans at the hands of law enforcement.

Still, Harris shares the mantra that drives her work. One that reflects that doing something, fighting and pushing forward is better than simply being content with what is. It’s a message that, if it resonates with enough voters, will win her the presidency of the United States of America and make history again in the process.

More stories