Vice President Kamala Harris got passionate while speaking with young people Monday at the Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies Legislative Leadership summit, and dropped an expletive to make her point.

“We have to know that sometimes people will open the door for you and leave it open. Sometimes they won’t,” Ms. Harris said. “And then you need to kick that f—ing door down.”

“Excuse my language,” she laughed.

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Moderator Jimmy O. Yang joked that they should make t-shirts “with that saying.”

Ms. Harris was participating in the event with Mr. Yang, an actor and comedian, when he asked her to describe what it was like to be the first Black American vice president and the first one of Asian descent. He asked how her background shaped her views.

“Here’s the thing about breaking barriers. Breaking barriers does not mean you start on one side of the barrier and you end up on the other side. There’s breaking involved.  And when you break things, you get cut and you may bleed.  And it is worth it every time,” she said. 

“And so, to especially the young people here, I say to you: When you walk in those rooms being the only one that looks like you, the only one with your background, you walk in those rooms chin up, shoulders back,” she said. 

The event was to celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.