Harris is ready to be president. Why is Biden holding her back?

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Despite our nation’s progress in social equality, the systemic power held by older white men in America continues to obstruct the paths to success for younger Black women.

The most current example? President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.

Members of Congress and other Democratic leaders have called on Biden to step aside as their party’s presidential nominee − with some suggesting that Harris should take his place − after a devastating debate performance two weeks ago. But the president isn’t backing down.

On Friday, Biden sat down with ABC News’ George Stephanopoulos in an attempt to convince Americans that he is mentally and physically fit to serve. He failed. The interview, much like the debate, lacked luster and left us with more questions than answers.

Our nation needs to move on and open doors for stronger, more capable candidates ‒ like Harris, the first Black, South Asian and female vice president of the United States.

During the interview, Stephanopoulos mentioned Biden’s noticeable pattern of decline and asked the president whether he’d agree to an independent cognitive test. Biden said there was no need, pointing out his successes as president.

Stephanopoulos, expressing concern for America’s progress, said: “Elections are about the future, not the past; they are about tomorrow, not yesterday.”

Kamala Harris is the future America needs

So why can’t Democrats, and the nation, leave behind the past and move toward the future with a better presidential nominee?

Harris ‒ a former attorney general for California and a former U.S. senator ‒ is the most viable candidate for president on either side of the aisle. She can take on former President Donald Trump, and she can win − which even leading Democrats now say Biden can’t do.

But in true and loyal fashion, Harris continues to support Biden. In her post-debate interview with CNN’s Anderson Cooper, Harris admitted that the president got off to a slow start in the debate, but she dismissed questions about Democratic talks on replacing him.

In the pursuit of equality and success, Black women like Harris face a unique set of challenges. One of the most significant obstacles is the systemic, often subtle resistance from older white men who hold the reins of power in various sectors and who have often blocked paths to success for younger Black women.

The roots of this issue are deeply embedded in the history of the United States. The legacy of slavery and the civil rights struggle have left enduring scars on our social and economic landscape.

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Remember talk show host Drew Barrymore’s “Momala” comment during a recent interview with Harris? It was a stark reminder of how Black women have always been viewed as caretakers and nothing more.

While progress has been made, the remnants of systemic racism continue to influence power dynamics. Older white men, who have historically held positions of authority, often operate within a framework that maintains their dominance and marginalizes others.

White men still hold most leadership positions

In America’s corporations, leadership positions are predominantly occupied by white men. Despite increasing diversity initiatives, the executive suites of major corporations remain largely homogeneous, prohibiting equity and equal access to Black women.

Conservative activists like Edward Blum have had success in dismantling inclusive programs and practices in universities and businesses.

Blum’s recent lawsuit against Fearless Fund successfully interrupted the awarding of grants to Black women business owners. Black women-owned businesses receive less than 1% of all venture capital. Why take away the support they provide to a community that long has been deprived of resources?

Imagine the odds against success for educated women like Harris. There’s an underlying implicit bias that she isn’t qualified, but why? Simply put, because she is a woman of color.

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Systemic inequities in the education system have disproportionately hurt Black students since the beginning of American history. Schools in predominantly Black neighborhoods are often underfunded, leading to inadequate resources and lower educational outcomes. Even when Black women overcome these obstacles and attain advanced degrees, they still face discrimination, where their qualifications are often undervalued compared with those of their white peers.

Furthermore, the intersection of racism and sexism creates a double bind for Black women. They must navigate a society that discriminates against them both for their race and their gender.

We are in a transformative era in America. To achieve a more inclusive society, the voices of Black women in leadership roles must be amplified, supported and trusted; their contributions must be recognized, and their potential fully realized. Only then can we truly claim to be a society that values equality and justice for all.

Kamala Harris is highly educated, strong and qualified to hold the highest office in the nation, but her path to the presidency will continue to be denied because of the systemic resistance against Black women. Dismantling systemic barriers that block Black women from thriving in the roles in which they’ve trained for is the right thing to do for our nation.

And for Joe Biden.

Marla Bautista is a military fellow columnist for USA TODAY Opinion.