Vice President Kamala Harris on Monday dropped the f-bomb at an event live-streamed on the White House Web site as she discussed how minorities should advocate for themselves.
“We have to know that sometimes people will open the door for you and leave it open,” Harris, 59, said at the annual Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies Legislative Leadership Summit.
“Sometimes they won’t, and then you need to kick that f–king door down,” Harris said.
Harris quickly added, “Excuse my language,” as the audience laughed.
The veep’s remarks came during an exchange with comedian Jimmy O. Yang from the flick “Crazy Rich Asians.”
Yang seemed impressed with Harris’ rare use of the f-bomb, quipping, “We gotta make t-shirts with that saying.”
Harris is the first female and African-American and Asian-American vice president in US history.
Yang elicited the profanity-laced response when he asked Harris to talk about her experience as the first female and first black and first Asian vice president.
During her remarks, Harris also underscored the difficulty of overcoming societal barriers.
“Here’s the thing about breaking down barriers. It does not mean that you start on one side of the barrier and end up on another,” she said.
“There’s breaking involved. And when you break things you get cut and you may bleed. And it is worth it every time.”
The Biden adminsitration is marking Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month with several events on the itinerary this week, including a reception at the White House later in the day Monday.
Last week, the Biden campaign rolled out a $14 million ad blitz appealing to minority voters.
During the panel session, Harris harkened back to her mother’s experience as an Indian immigrant to the US.
“You have to fight for rights for everybody, and you have to be in the fight,” the pol said. “You can’t sit it out.”
“You know how inequity happens,” she went on. “You know what happens when systems displace power or when systems are suppressing the rights of other people.”
