Harris reflects on breaking down barriers: Sometimes ‘you need to kick that f***ing door down’ to accomplish your dreams

Vice President Kamala Harris on Monday reflected on her experiences as a barrier-breaking public figure, telling a crowd in blunt terms that sometimes they need to take it upon themselves strive for their own opportunities and successes – even if others may doubt them.

Vice President Kamala Harris on Monday reflected on her experiences as a barrier-breaking public figure, telling a crowd in blunt terms that sometimes they need to take it upon themselves strive for their own opportunities and successes – even if others may doubt them. “We have to know that sometimes people will open the door for you and leave it open,” Harris said in a moderated conversation with actor and comedian Jimmy O. Yang in Washington. “Sometimes they won’t – and then you need to kick that f***ing door down,” she added, to applause and laughter from the crowd. Harris’ statement came as she marked Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, reflecting on her experience as the country’s first female, first Black and first Asian American vice president. Harris told Yang that people should never use others’ preconceptions of what they’re capable of to limit their own dreams and desires. “Don’t ever carry, as a personal burden, your capacity to do whatever you dream and aspire to do based on other people’s limited ability to see who can do what,” Harris said.