Laila Fierce, 15, in Chicago on August 21, 2024. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune)

Samra Haseeb is still considering who he will vote for in November.

On paper, Kamala Harris, who is Black and Indian, represents a world of new possibilities for women of color. She is first in many ways: she is a woman, a Black woman, a woman of South Asian descent, and the first female vice president. And if she defeats Republican candidate Donald Trump in November, she would be the first woman to become president of the United States.

In theory, Haseeb said, she is happy that Harris is representing her community, but she is not sure whether the vice president is really incorporating her identity into her work in a positive way.

“Representation alone is not going to save us,” said Haseeb, a 22-year-old Indian-American graduate student at the University of Illinois Chicago. “Unfortunately, I don’t feel like voting for her is enough for me.”

For some young women of color, particularly Black and Indian women who share Harris’ ethnic identity, the presidential run is historic and emotionally significant. And while Harris has been clear about her stance on other issues important to her, such as reproductive health, the economy and immigration, for others this pivotal moment challenges the idea of ​​representation. They are at a crossroads because they say Harris’ intentions regarding a ceasefire in Gaza are unclear.

“It is definitely difficult to support her when she has not done much to stop what is happening in Gaza for over ten months,” Haseeb said.

Polls show that Haseeb, like many women her age, is trying to figure out what this political moment means for her and her generation. According to National Public Radio polls, one in 10 voters under 35 are still undecided about whether to vote for Harris or Trump. Yet, according to a July Axios/Generation Lab poll, 45 percent of young people say they have an extremely or somewhat favorable opinion of Harris.

“She could use this opportunity, since Joe Biden is not running, to correct some of his mistakes and try to win back our votes,” Haseeb added. “It wouldn’t be an enthusiastic vote, but better late than never.”

Deyona Burton, a Florida State University graduate and program director for the College Democrats of America, tries to balance the joy of being in a presidential race while campaigning for Harris’ election with a sensitivity to the issues important to her generation.

“I’m from Florida – it’s about reproductive rights, it’s about the Supreme Court, it’s about Gaza – it’s about my humanity,” Burton said. “It was said in a speech: To love this country is to fight for this country, and to fight for this country is to fight for all people – literally all of them.”

While many South Asian and Black women believe Harris is more likely to listen to their concerns than Joe Biden, many young voters want a more decisive and just Gaza policy before they cast their vote.

A survey conducted earlier this year by the Institute for Social Policy and Understanding found that over 60 percent of 18- to 29-year-olds support a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.

“We’re usually more left-wing or progressive, I think that happens to every generation, but specifically for this generation it was a turning point,” Burton said.

“Gaza, for example, has been at the center of every conversation. And a lot of people disagree about whether it should be cared about or not, whether it should be talked about or not, but I think my peers and my generation have set the precedent: If we don’t talk about the terrible acts, the terrible things that are happening, what’s stopping us from happening to them?”

Although he was not a protester, Haseeb expressed the views of the pro-Palestinian protests that emerged during the Democratic National Convention.

“I feel like people get lost in the idea of, ‘oh, she’s young, she’s different.’ But it feels very much like she’s a continuation of Joe Biden and that’s not a victory for women of color,” Haseeb said.

While 21-year-old Burton acknowledged the divide over Harris, he emphasized the historic nature of her candidacy.

This is Burton’s first convention, and she was visibly excited Wednesday to be in Chicago working as a staff member at the DNC. “Seeing black people in these rooms is incredible – I mean, how can we even describe the experience?” she said as she led her boss, Pennsylvania House Speaker Joanna McClinton, into the Black Caucus council at McCormick Place on Wednesday.

“I really believe that Kamala Harris in office could help eliminate the tangible effects of racism,” Burton said. “Little black girls everywhere will know that they can be anything – they could be a teacher or a lawyer. They could be in the military. They could be a doctor or a professor. They could be president of the United States. I think that means a lot.”

Burton, who works with her peers and politicians, said she understands why young people are hesitant to vote, but with Biden out of the presidential race, they should give Harris a chance to break away and not write her off prematurely, Burton said.

“I think there has to be a certain amount of leniency because (Harris) has the right to determine her position on (Gaza), not that of her vice president,” Burton said. “She has already called for a ceasefire, and I understand that words are just words, but to me this is a victory – this is a step in the right direction. I don’t want it to be a stain on her, because I believe she should be given … the opportunity to do something about it.”

Even those who are not yet of voting age are excited about Harris’ prospects, like 15-year-old Laila Fierce, who flew from Nashville to Chicago on Saturday with high hopes of attending the convention at the United Center. Laila and her mother, Naima Walker Fierce, secured their credentials in time to meet one of the convention’s biggest draws: Barack and Michelle Obama.

Although Fierce was unable to stay for Harris’ acceptance speech at the United Center because of school, she said the experience was meaningful. “It’s about time,” Fierce said of Harris as the Democratic nominee. “It’s about time,” Fierce said of Harris as the Democratic nominee. “In a country as diverse as America, it doesn’t make sense that the three branches of government are predominantly white.”

Fierce said that as a woman of color, Harris understands the issues facing marginalized communities better than other politicians in Washington. “The tide is definitely turning,” Fierce said. “She’s gaining traction online. People are seeing that Kamala is more authentic, and more people can identify with her.”

By the time she is eligible to vote, Laila wants to see “big reforms,” ​​she said. Many Americans look to Harris to implement those reforms when it comes to issues like “discrimination deeply rooted in government and society, systemic racism, mass incarceration, drug use and violence,” she said.

Meanwhile, on Wednesday afternoon, 15-year-old Aisha Khan, an Indian-American student at Niles West High School in Skokie, walked the DNC as a member of the Illinois Youth Press Corps at McCormick Place.

Khan said she was confident she would witness history in November.

“It excites me to see someone who looks like me, both as a woman and as a half-Native American,” she said. “Even though I don’t agree with her on a lot of things, I’m just so excited that someone can break so many barriers to become president.”

Aisha said she doesn’t think it’s necessary to agree with a candidate to vote for them, and wonders if more people with the “power to choose” should use their vote as a strategic decision instead.

“We are making this decision to make sure our voices are heard,” Aisha said. “Many people in my age group are following the war (in Gaza) right now and I feel like they are holding politicians accountable – even though we support Kamala’s vote, that doesn’t mean we support all of her policies. And since we can vote next time, we will make sure she earns it.”