VP Harris on Breaking Barriers: Sometimes People Will Open the Door for You Sometimes ‘You Need to Kick that F**king Door Down’

Harris So here s ░░░░░░░░ thing about breaking barriers ░░░░░░░░ barriers does not mean ░░░░░░░░ start on one side ░░░░░░░░ the barrier and you ░░░░░░░░ up on the other ░░░░░░░░ There s breaking involved ░░░░░░░░ when you break things ░░░░░░░░ get cut And you ░░░░░░░░ bleed And it is ░░░░░░░░ it every time every ░░░░░░░░ And so to especially ░░░░░░░░ young people here I ░░░░░░░░ to you when you ░░░░░░░░ in those rooms being ░░░░░░░░ only one that looks ░░░░░░░░ you the only one ░░░░░░░░ your background you walk ░░░░░░░░ those rooms chin up ░░░░░░░░ back be at a ░░░░░░░░ room a boardroom a ░░░░░░░░ a hearing room you ░░░░░░░░ in those rooms knowing ░░░░░░░░ we are all in ░░░░░░░░ room with you applauding ░░░░░░░░ on and expecting certain ░░░░░░░░ from you including that ░░░░░░░░ will not be silent ░░░░░░░░ those rooms And that ░░░░░░░░ expect that from you ░░░░░░░░ we also expect that ░░░░░░░░ will internalize and know ░░░░░░░░ re there with you ░░░░░░░░ so your voice can ░░░░░░░░ strong It is as ░░░░░░░░ said my mother would ░░░░░░░░ to me Don t ░░░░░░░░ ever let anybody tell ░░░░░░░░ who you are You ░░░░░░░░ them who you are ░░░░░░░░ t ever carry as ░░░░░░░░ personal burden your capacity ░░░░░░░░ do whatever you dream ░░░░░░░░ aspire to do based ░░░░░░░░ other people s limited ░░░░░░░░ to see who can ░░░░░░░░ what This is part ░░░░░░░░ what s involved is ░░░░░░░░ we have to know ░░░░░░░░ sometimes people will open ░░░░░░░░ door for you and ░░░░░░░░ it open sometimes they ░░░░░░░░ t And then you ░░░░░░░░ to kick that f ░░░░░░░░ door down Laughter Cheering ░░░░░░░░ Applause Excuse my language ░░░░░░░░ MODERATOR We got to ░░░░░░░░ T shirts with that ░░░░░░░░ Kick the f ing ░░░░░░░░ down.’”