Change in Creative Mindsets with Change in Leadership: Kamala Harris as the Vice President
In May 2020, I taught a virtual writing workshop in partnership with a chic, independent bookstore called Kew & Willow Books. It was a fully sold-out virtual workshop where we wrote all kinds of stories about women who have made an impression in our lives—our mothers, grandmothers, teachers, friends, or any other woman who helped shape who we are today.
Stories allow us to create memories and preserve legacies. Stories hold space for our healing. Stories help us navigate cultures and cuisines. I reiterated to the participants that they should write what feels truest to them, not what others want them to write. There isn’t just one story about any culture. There isn’t a singular experience in our lives. There were people of color in the workshop who didn’t necessarily see themselves being represented in American literature. How do you dig into that space of confidence where there are few to no role models?
I repeatedly reminded those in the workshop to explore stories and write characters without anyone else in mind. I have had agents tell me that my writing is beautiful. I have had agents tell me what I should write about. One agent said to me that my female protagonists aren’t “sellable” because they are happy, independent, immigrant women. “America isn’t ready for them,” he said. If I made them emotionally clingy and more old-fashioned, I would have a book deal. This is coming from someone who has never traveled to India, believes “butter naan” and “chicken tikka” make for authentic Indian food, and that saying “Namaste” in yoga classes onsets their spiritual journey.
It was a difficult decision to walk away from…this agent and opportunity. But I didn’t want to be chained to a singular definition of South Asian immigrant women. I know that when we unfairly pigeon-hole people and cultures (Indian techie, South Asian cab driver, Black help, Hispanic drug dealer etc. etc.), we make our experiences limited and navigate the world through the lens of ignorance and bias. I refused to perpetuate the stereotype.
The female protagonist, Ahana Chopra, in my novel “Louisiana Catch”—who the agent thought wasn’t a representation of Indian women—resonated so deeply with the audiences that I won a VOTY Storyteller Award for it. Previous recipients include Chelsea Clinton. Ahana holds a senior leadership position and runs one of the largest feminist conferences in New Orleans. I will say that it took a lot of inner work, belief, and showing up daily to stick to my version of South Asian women. Sometimes it felt heavy defending my female protagonists, fighting for my right to write stories the way I chose, and looking for representation.
But January 20th, 2021 changed everything. I felt light when Kamala Devi Harris became the 49th Vice-President of the United States. She is the United States’ first female vice president and the first African American and first South Asian American vice president. Yes, there was a sense of relief, pride, and hope.
But it was also reassuring to watch someone who looks like me hold the second highest position in the White House. REPRESENTATION. I don’t have to prove to agents that women of color, Asian women, Indian American women are not a disempowered species who need to be “saved.” My confidence and calmness are on a different plane right now. Ahana Chopra from Louisiana Catch isn’t just a figment of imagination. Our VP is a woman and that too a woman of color.
I asked three different creative women if and how Kamala Harris has impacted their thinking or mindset. Here is what they had to say:
“I think having Kamala in the White House definitely gives me a new confidence. I’m going bigger in projects, my pricing and my opportunities. No more playing small. I think that’s the blessing of having her to look up to.” ~ Laura Mignott, CEO of DFlash, an experience communications agency and host of the award-winning The Reset Podcast.
Priya Mulji is a London-based columnist for Eastern Eye Newspaper, a blogger, and a marketer. She said, “Even though it is not our home country, there has been so much pride and joy in Kamala Harris taking her place as not just the 1st woman of color in US history to hold that place, but probably being one of the most powerful women in the world and being desi/black. I think there is a shift in the thinking of so many elders’ minds that someone from a mixed background is now more accepted. Just because of her.
And I think that is going to create a shift in mindset for support that young women receive. Women of color are going to be encouraged to pursue their dreams more, because they have a wonderful role model. This could be in the creative sense or any other. I think it will open so many doors for women all over the world. We have a role model, someone to look up to. Someone who we can say is one of us.
We can say, if she can become VP, then we can get our books published. If she can become VP, we can become actors. And there are so many other women of color paving the way, especially in the US, less so in the UK. You have people like Mindy Kaling, Lily Singh and Priyanka Chopra doing amazing work and that just fuels our creativity – if she can do it, why can’t I? “
“Having Kamala Harris as the VP of the United States has been a true milestone for womankind, and I’m proud to be a witness to it. Women have always had the power, the intelligence, the innate skill to be leaders, but society has always been such a way to disregard that I guess. Change is something that takes time and changing a societal mindset takes time – unfortunately, fortunately, who knows – and so this has been empowering on a more personal note.
I feel more enthusiastic and hopeful that my children can see and grow up in a society where there will be more respect, more equality for women and minority groups. Maybe they won’t need to unlearn as much as my generation or more-so the generations before mine have to,” says Vruti Patel who is a Project Manager at a creative agency in Chelsea, New York.
I am not saying that overnight new opportunities will arise for women of color because of our new VP. We, as a society, have a lot of work to do. But after talking to over a dozen women, I can sense the confidence brimming within each of us. There is hope and optimism. Diversity isn’t just a buzzword. Every time that we feel dejected, we can remind ourselves that we have a role model in the White House.
Do you feel any change in your mindset and attitude as you approach your creative pursuits under this new leadership where a woman and that too a woman of color is our new Vice President?
“Real change, enduring change, happens one step at a time.” ~ Ruth Bader Ginsburg
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BIO: Sweta Srivastava Vikram (www.swetavikram.com) is an international speaker, best-selling author of 12 books, and Ayurveda and mindset coach who is committed to helping people thrive on their own terms. As a trusted source on health and wellness, most recently appearing on NBC and Radio Lifeforce, Sweta has dedicated her career to writing about and teaching a more holistic approach to creativity, productivity, health, and nutrition. Her work has appeared in The New York Times and other publications across nine countries on three continents.
Sweta is a trained yogi and certified Ayurveda health coach, is on the board of Fly Female Founders, and holds a Master’s in Strategic Communications from Columbia University. Voted as “One of the Most Influential Asians of Our Times” and winner of the “Voices of the Year” award (previous recipients include Chelsea Clinton), she lives in New York City with her husband and works with clients across the globe. She also teaches yoga, meditation, and mindfulness to survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence as well incarcerated men and women. Find her on: Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Facebook.
Category: On Writing
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