Sales of Vice President Kamala Harris' 2019 memoir have surged recently, following her selection as the Democratic nominee for the 2024 presidential election against former President Donald Trump.
Her book, 'The Truths We Hold: An American Journey,' has now claimed the top spot among female biographies and ranks second overall among all biographies, trailing behind JD Vance's 'Hillbilly Elegy.'
In the preface of her memoir, Harris clarifies that it is not intended to serve as a policy platform but rather a collection of personal ideas, viewpoints, and stories from her life and encounters with various individuals.
Born in Oakland, California, in 1964 to immigrant parents, Harris shares insights into her family background. Her father, Donald Harris, originally from Jamaica, immigrated to the U.S. for studies at the University of California, Berkeley. He later became a distinguished economics professor at Stanford University. Harris' mother, Shyamala Gopalan, hailing from southern India, pursued studies at Berkeley and excelled as a doctor and breast cancer researcher before her passing in 2009.
In her memoir, Harris reflects on how her parents' involvement in the civil rights movement influenced her political beliefs. She recalls being taken to civil rights marches in a stroller, emphasizing that social justice was a fundamental aspect of her upbringing.
The book also sheds light on Harris' father's connections with leftist activists in Berkeley and San Francisco, including Lateefah Simon, a prominent Bay Area social justice advocate and 2024 congressional candidate. Harris praises Simon's achievements, highlighting her recognition as the youngest woman to receive the MacArthur 'Genius' award in 2003. Simon currently serves on the Bay Area Rapid Transport board of directors and has held leadership roles in progressive organizations like the Rosenberg Foundation and the Akonadi Foundation.
