Joe Biden may have been inaugurated this past Wednesday, but in many ways women owned the day as well. The inauguration of Vice President Kamala Harris—the first woman, first Black person, and first Asian American to hold the office—took center stage; but from women of color coming together in online book clubs to mark the moment, to the symbolism in the fashion choices of many women at the ceremony; the 2021 inauguration was a truly inclusive, exciting, trailblazing event. We’ve rounded up just a few stories that caught our eye this week about the remarkable women involved in the inauguration, from Vice President Kamala Harris and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden to performers, from heroes and artists to the importance of representation.
Vice President Kamala Harris. Yes, It Really Happened., from The Washington Post—“[S]eeing her on the Capitol platform on Wednesday in bold purple colors was still an emotionally charged moment. She often instructs young people to own their power and walk ‘with chin up and shoulders back.’ That is precisely how she appeared, effectively announcing, ‘I am here. I belong.’ […] if the prospect of a woman of color as commander in chief seemed far-fetched only a year ago, it now seems entirely possible. That’s the impact of seeing Harris where she belongs: front and center on the national stage.”
Amanda Gorman Reminded America What Poetry Can Do, from CNN—“Maybe a poem won’t literally pass legislation or deflect a bullet from exploding in my Black body, but a poem is what makes our hearts move. It does make people think, reflect, and it can even lead to empathy. We need that. That quality of light where hopes and dreams can live is what this country needs, and you can count on the artists to keep fueling all of our movements for liberation. Thank you, Amanda Gorman, for being a brilliant example.”
Firefighter Andrea Hall Leads Pledge of Allegiance, Spoken and in Sign Language, from NPR—“Hall was the first Black woman hired and assigned to a station at the City of Albany Fire Department, and then the first Black woman to serve as fire captain at Fulton County Fire Rescue. She was a rare woman in an industry dominated by men […] ‘I just am intending to represent, my family, the city of South Fulton, women, African-American women, firefighters, and everyone in the nation, well,’ Hall told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
From JLo to Sotomayor: Latinos Make Mark at Biden’s Inauguration, from the Miami Herald—“When Kamala Harris placed her hand on a Bible on Wednesday, making history as the nation’s first female, Caribbean, South Asian, and Black vice president, it was Sonia Sotomayor, the first Latina Supreme Court justice, who administered the oath of office. […] ‘It’s really a reflection of what the nation is,’ said Federico de Jesús, a political analyst and former deputy director for the Puerto Rico Federal Affairs Administration. ‘I think having those two prominent Puerto Rican women sent the appropriate signal of inclusion of this country.”
Keke Palmer Joins Jill Biden in First Inaugural Livestream for Kids, from NBC News—“‘Today is a celebration of democracy and a reminder that, in America, we the people get to pick our leaders together. But when the ceremony ends, that’s really just the beginning,’ Palmer said during the event. ‘We’ve got lots of work to do as a country. We’ve got to take on a pandemic, climate change, and racial inequality. We’ve got to build a country where good jobs and opportunities are available to everyone. Those are big challenges and today is a reminder that we can overcome those challenges if we work together.’”
Image: White House
