A new light dawning

 

The world, at least a great percentage of it, rejoices with the United States of America on the inauguration of her 46^th president. It is the first in many ways, with President Biden being the oldest president in American history and Kamala Harris sworn in as the first female Black Vice President. We rejoice that finally the world’s superpower is coming on board with having a female in such a position of authority. It lags behind so many countries who have had women as vices or heads of government. Well, rather late than never. I wish Kamala success in her tenure and look forward to seeing a female American president soon.

As a woman, I am ecstatic about the development. Madam Vice president proves so many points - that you can aspire to the highest possible position even if you are married, female, black- Asian and of immigrant descent.  She proves to us all that we can have it all as women. Equally notable is the poem rendition by Amanda Gorman. True, she is not the first female or Black to play such a role; Maya Angelou is her forerunner, but she is unarguable by far the youngest at 22 years. It is exciting to see women making indelible marks at young ages.  

Attaining that position as a woman is commendable but attaining it as a married woman with a husband willing to be on leave to support his wife is an incredible feat. I can just imagine the ‘coconut water head’ men say they can never do such.  My deepest sympathy to the women who married them. Only married women who have been in one position of authority or the other can understand what it takes to reach there, maintain the position and remain married. It takes love and commitment to have that kind of relationship. Most of Kamala’s campaigns presented her with a strong family backing – she will need it to fulfil her office.

I look forward to the day when we can comfortably say that being a woman is not a disadvantage or hindrance to attaining the pinnacle of one’s chosen career; that equal opportunities are given to both genders and they are rewarded based on merit. I look forward to the day when women will use their strength of numbers to choose the best person for the job. I look forward to the day when successful women will not feel lonely on top but receive the support of other women to consolidate their achievements.  

In a world that is becoming increasingly anti-immigrant, it is heart-warming to see Kamala sworn into office as the vice president of a country her mother immigrated to as a teenager. She is potpourri – may she perfume the whole world, starting from a deeply-divided America. As racist as America is sometimes portrayed to be, two people with black immigrant blood flowing in their veins have risen to the highest positions. This is a lesson that some African countries would do well to learn from America. I believe that the country America is today is because she taken time to glean the best from all over the world and given them opportunity to contribute positively to the nation. Immigrants are not made to the originator and financier of crime in the country where they reside; they are not pushed out of jobs that would have developed the nations or killed as collateral damage in a bid to win the votes of ill-informed citizens.

What American has gone through in the last few years is a pointer to what happens to a nation that would not honestly face its problems and strive to resolve them without looking for defenceless scapegoats. I believe that the choice of Kamala as Biden’s vice is a bold effort to say loud and clear that America is a nation of immigrants and will remain so to keep it strong and viable.  Those who think otherwise can be shown the high rocks and ocean.

Day by day, year by year, decade by decade, a new light is dawning on women and immigrants in different parts of the world; my prayer is that the light will spread to the dark places of the world where these classes are still being marginalised. May we all be part of the move to create a better world.