Kamala Harris Accepts Vice-Presidential Nomination: Full Transcript

Senator Kamala Harris of California, the first woman of color to become a major party’s nominee for vice president, reintroduced herself to America in an acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention on Wednesday night, telling the story of her upbringing as a biracial daughter of immigrants and outlining her vision for a more inclusive country.

In a roughly 17-minute address, Ms. Harris, whose mother was from India and whose father was from Jamaica, walked voters through the early days of her life growing up in the Bay Area in California. She spoke of her mother’s journey to America, her parents relationship and their subsequent split, and being raised much of her life by a single parent who taught her to put “family first.”

“Oh, how I wish she were here tonight,” Ms. Harris said of her mother. “But I know she’s looking down on me from above. I keep thinking about that 25-year-old Indian woman, all of five feet tall, who gave birth to me at Kaiser hospital in Oakland, Calif. On that day, she probably could have never imagined that I would be standing before you now and speaking these words: I accept your nomination for vice president of the United States of America.”

A longtime prosecutor, Ms. Harris recalled of her victories in court fighting for survivors of sexual assault and against criminal organizations and big banks, all as part of a broader argument for an America that would give all of its citizens equal opportunity, equal treatment and justice under the law.