As soon as Kamala Harris emerged as the presumptive Democratic nominee for president, critics wasted no time labeling her a “DEI hire,” insinuating she was not qualified for the role.
As soon as Vice President Kamala Harris emerged as the presumptive Democratic nominee for president, critics wasted no time labeling her a “DEI hire”, insinuating she was not qualified for the role. Not only do these attacks disregard her impressive record as vice president, United States senator, California attorney general, and the elected district attorney of San Francisco, but they echo harmful stereotypes used to undermine Black women prosecutors. As a Black woman and former prosecutor, I am deeply concerned that these attacks will deter aspiring Black female lawyers from pursuing careers in prosecution.
The past decade has marked a significant increase in the election of Black women prosecutors. They have stood as trailblazers in their commitment to reforming the criminal justice system. Many are leaving office today amid a surge of identity-related attacks, including false accusations of corruption, incompetence, and “reverse racism.” Governors, state legislatures, and the courts have employed unprecedented tools—including suspensions, preemption bills, and the appointment of special prosecutors—to remove their authority. These attacks are not only anti-Black but also deeply misogynistic, perpetuating harmful stereotypes that seek to delegitimize Black women in prosecutorial roles.
In a powerful panel hosted by the Institute for Innovation in Prosecution at John Jay College (“IIP”), Black women prosecutors shared their experiences of facing misogynoir, death threats, and unwarranted scrutiny in their roles. Cook County (IL) State Attorney Kim Foxx said that the opposition to Black female top prosecutors stems from the belief that Black women should be “subjected to the system. not be in charge of it.” Foxx further stated, “People do not just threaten to remove me; I am going to be raped first and then hung from a tree.
