Kamala Harris was born on October 20, 1964, in Oakland, California, to Donald and Shyamala Harris, a couple whose diverse cultural backgrounds and commitment to social justice would profoundly shape their daughter's life. Her father, Donald Jasper Harris, was a Jamaican American economist and professor who had immigrated to the United States in pursuit of academic opportunities. Her mother, Shyamala Gopalan Harris, was an Indian American breast cancer researcher and civil rights activist who had arrived in the United States from India in 1958.

Growing up in a diverse neighborhood in Berkeley, California, Kamala was exposed to the vibrant cultural tapestry of the San Francisco Bay Area. Her parents' involvement in the Civil Rights Movement instilled in her a strong sense of empathy, compassion, and public service. The Harris household was a hub of intellectual curiosity, with lively discussions about politics, economics, and social justice.