JACKSONVILLE, Fla. —
It was a historic day on Capitol Hill.
California Senator Kamala Harris was sworn-in at the White House Wednesday morning, as the Vice President of the United States.
She is the first African-American woman and first Asian-American woman to hold this office. Harris is also the first vice president who is also a member of a historically Black sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha, Sorority, Inc.
The organization was founded on January 15, 1908 on the campus of Howard University.
It has more than 1,000 chapters, nationwide and more than 300,000 members.
Action News Jax Courtney Cole sat down with two of her sorority sisters, Representative Tracie Davis of Florida House District 13, and Genell Mills, the President of the Pi Eta Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., based in Orange Park.
They both told Cole today was monumental for them.
“To be honest, watching that, it was just monumental. Initially, when I saw it, I was just at a loss for words,” said Representative Davis.
“As I watch the inauguration today my eyes filled with tears,” Mills said.
Even before Harris took the oath at the U.S Capitol, Vice President Harris quickly became an inspiration on the campaign trail due, not only to her profession and personal story– but also because of her relatable ties to Howard University and AKA.
Each of Harris’ sorors told Cole their support started by getting people to the polls.
“The Divine Nine was very instrumental in getting people out to vote, getting the messages out, providing rides to the poles. We were all in. And that was the sororities and fraternities. Because she represented all of us,” Davis told Action News Jax.
When it comes to how they’ll support her now that she’s in office, each of them told me VP Harris can count on her sisters.
“Absolutely. We do look toward improvement, we look toward Kamala, as well as our President Joe Biden, to be in the center that’s making a change,” said Mills.
“We are the foot soldiers. Whatever the VP calls us to do, we are proud of her, we are proud of her being a representative in the White House,” said Representative Davis.
And if there’s one thing Davis and Mills want young girls to take away from today, it’s this:
“I say to them, dream and dream big. This is a perfect example of where God has shown that manifestation and that we can go further,” said Mills.
Cox Media Group
