How did Kamala Harris balance her role as both an activist and a prosecutor?

Kamala Harris navigated a complex dual role by being influenced by activism and critical of government institutions while simultaneously working within those same institutions she often critiqued as unfair. This paradoxical position became a defining theme of her career approach to justice reform. In her 2017 speech to Howard University graduates, Harris articulated this philosophy clearly when she stated that one can 'march for black lives on the street' while also ensuring 'law enforcement accountability by serving as a prosecutor or on a police commission.' This perspective reflects her belief that meaningful change requires both external pressure through activism and internal reform through institutional participation.