--- title: Kamala Harris on her Mother, The Optimist description: My mother was the first real optimist that I ever knew.   I share that memory with Kamala Harris. image: https://www.centreforoptimism.com/hubfs/Kamala_Harris_Vice_Presidential_Portrait.jpeg --- ###### [Check out Our latest insights on Optimism](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog) [![Centre for Optimism_Logo](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/hubfs/Centre%20for%20Optimism_Logo.svg)](https://www.centreforoptimism.com?hsLang=en) - [Home](https://www.centreforoptimism.com) - [Subscribe](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/subscribe) - [Why Optimism?](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/whyoptimism) - [What is Optimism?](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/whatisoptimism) - [The Optimism Principle](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/theoptimismprinciple) - [Need Optimism?](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/services-and-workshops) - [The Optimism Workshop](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/workshop) - [Victor Perton - That Optimism Man](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/victorperton) - [Magnetic Optimism for Organisations](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/magnetic-optimism-workshops) ![Close Icon (3)](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/hubfs/Close%20Icon%20(3).svg) ![Search (2)](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/hubfs/Search%20(2).svg) ###### [United States of America](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/tag/united-states-of-america) , ###### [Kamala Harris](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/tag/kamala-harris) , ###### [Family](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/tag/family) , ###### [Mother](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/tag/mother) # Kamala Harris on her Mother, The Optimist My mother was the first real optimist that I ever knew.   I share that memory with Kamala Harris.  Do you? Yesterday US Vice President Kamala Harris [in an onstage conversation at the Arvada Center for Performing Arts in Colorado](https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/speeches-remarks/2023/03/06/remarks-by-vice-president-harris-in-a-moderated-conversation-on-climate-3/)said, "my mother probably is the first real optimist that I ever knew.  My mother had two goals in her life: to raise her two daughters, my sister Maya and me, and to end breast cancer.  My mother was a breast cancer researcher.  And she would take us with her, because she worked long days and long hours and weekends.  And she’d take us with her to the lab from time to time after school and on weekends.  And she had — she believed in what could be and just kept working at it.  And made some — made a couple of discoveries.  And I just believe in that.  And I think that’s what makes us a country of innovators and leaders and believers and dreamers and doers.  Right?" In conversation with the Vice President, the rock climber Sasha Digiulian said, "I am a optimistic person.  And that’s been a big route that’s gotten me through my career, is trying to stay positive and optimistic through hard times.  And it’s — without a doubt, our climate is going through a hard time." [![Read More From Optimists on their Optimism](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/21889975/b28d9049-955d-4f8d-8209-f424430aad8b.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/21889975/b28d9049-955d-4f8d-8209-f424430aad8b) Speaking at the National Baptist Convention in 2022, American Vice President Kamala Harris said, “These are unsettled times.  And today then, I ask on everyone here — I ask each one of us to continue to be driven by compassion and optimism.  Because there’s so much about what we have always stood for that has not been a fight against something, it has been a fight for something, fueled by our faith, **fueled by** **opt****imism**, and also fueled by empathy and enlightenment, driven by our love of country and a belief in the promise of our nation.  “So let us, people of faith, continue to defend our democracy, continue to defend our liberty and our freedoms.  Let us continue to fight to build a better future.  And let us continue to have faith in God, in our country, and in each other, because together we will continue to usher in the dawn.” [![Read More: Optimism, Spirituality, Religion and Faith](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/21889975/917d435c-ed7b-4591-813e-7b6e9c3497f6.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/21889975/917d435c-ed7b-4591-813e-7b6e9c3497f6) [Written by Victor Perton](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/author/victor-perton) ##### Keep up to date with the latest from Centre for Optimism ##### We appreciate any contribution you can make to help us spread optimism with the world [![Give Today](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/21889975/daed54ec-1173-4b99-9390-e69152e87436.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/21889975/daed54ec-1173-4b99-9390-e69152e87436) #### Here are some similar articles ###### [United States of America](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/tag/united-states-of-america) , ###### [Innovation](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/tag/innovation) , ###### [Optimism Gap](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/tag/optimism-gap) #### [Innovation Remains One of America’s Great Reservoirs of Optimism](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/innovation-remains-one-of-americas-great-reservoirs-of-optimism?hsLang=en) [Read Article](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/innovation-remains-one-of-americas-great-reservoirs-of-optimism?hsLang=en) ###### [United States of America](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/tag/united-states-of-america) #### [America 250 and the Optimism Advantage](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/america-250-and-the-optimism-advantage?hsLang=en) [Read Article](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/america-250-and-the-optimism-advantage?hsLang=en) ###### [United States of America](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/tag/united-states-of-america) , ###### [Kamala Harris](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/tag/kamala-harris) #### [The Light of Optimism: Kamala Harris](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/kamalaconcession?hsLang=en) [Read Article](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/kamalaconcession?hsLang=en) ## Connect With Us ##### We love to connect with everyone who is ready to open up and share their optimisim. - [![Facebook 2](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/hubfs/Center%20of%20Optimism%20Assets/Facebook%202.svg)](https://www.facebook.com/optimistsvoices/) - [![instagram (6)](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/hubfs/instagram%20(6).svg)](https://www.instagram.com/centreforoptimism/?hl=en) - [![linked in 2](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/hubfs/linked%20in%202.svg)](https://www.linkedin.com/company/centreforoptimism/) - [![youtube (3)](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/hubfs/youtube%20(3).svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFd4GnToz3WLasQSfsz_z8w) - [![twitter](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/hubfs/twitter.svg)](https://twitter.com/Centre4Optimism) #### Keep up to date with the latest from The Centre for Optimism ##### Contact Us Call Us: [+61 417 217 241](tel:+61%20417%20217%20241) (Australia) PO Box 5081, Garden City, Victoria 3207, Australia ##### [The Centre for Optimism](https://www.centreforoptimism.com?hsLang=en) - [Why Optimism?](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/whyoptimism) - [What is Optimism?](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/whatisoptimism) - Why be Optimistic? 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