Kamala Devi Harris was born in Oakland, California, to Shyamala Gopalan Harris, a biomedical scientist from India, and Donald Harris, an economist from Jamaica. Her birth marked the beginning of a life deeply influenced by diverse cultural experiences and intellectual pursuits.

Harris spent parts of her childhood in Berkeley, California, and Montreal, Quebec, Canada, where her mother taught at McGill University. She was raised in a culturally rich environment, attending both a Black church and a Hindu temple, and participating in civil rights demonstrations from a young age. Her early exposure to activism shaped her views on social justice.

After moving to Montreal, Harris graduated from Westmount High School. This marked the end of her formal secondary education and set the stage for her entry into higher education in the United States.

Harris graduated from Howard University, a historically Black university in Washington, D.C., with a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science and economics. Her time at Howard was pivotal, shaping her identity and fostering a strong sense of community and purpose. She was a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority.

Harris earned her Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law. Her legal education equipped her with the knowledge and skills necessary for her future career in law and politics.