Shyamala Gopalan and Donald J. Harris were born in 1938 in southern India and Jamaica, respectively. They met in 1962 while pursuing their Ph.D.s at the University of California, Berkeley and became involved in the civil rights movement of the 1960s as members of the Afro American Association. They got married in 1963 and had two daughters, Kamala Harris in 1964 and Maya Harris in 1967. However, their marriage did not last, as they later divorced due to incompatibility when Kamala was only five years old.
Despite their divorce, Harris wrote that her father remained a part of their lives, but it was her mother, Shyamala, who took charge of their upbringing. Shyamala was a breast cancer researcher who played a pivotal role in isolating and characterizing the progesterone receptor gene, which significantly impacted the medical establishment’s understanding of hormone responsiveness in breast tissue. Donald, on the other hand, continued his career as a professor of economics, eventually joining Stanford University where he is now a professor of economics, emeritus.
Harris has spoken about her parents’ love story and how they fell in love in a quintessentially American way while fighting for justice in the civil rights movement of the 1960s. She has credited her parents for instilling in her a strong sense of justice and the importance of fighting for what is right, values that have permeated her career as a politician. Despite their differences, Harris has written about the deep love her parents had for each other and the impact they had on her upbringing.
Shyamala’s dedication to her work as a breast cancer researcher and Donald’s career as an economics professor have undoubtedly influenced Harris’s own career path and values. Both of her parents’ commitment to their work and the causes they believed in have inspired her to follow in their footsteps and make a positive impact on the world. These values have been evident throughout Harris’s career as a prosecutor, senator, and vice president of the United States.
The legacy of Shyamala and Donald lives on through their daughters, Kamala and Maya, who have both made significant contributions in their respective fields and continue to honor their parents’ memory through their work. The story of Shyamala and Donald’s love, dedication to their work, and commitment to social justice serves as an inspiration for Harris and her family, as well as for others who strive to make a difference in the world. Their story is a testament to the power of love, resilience, and determination in the face of adversity.
