In Kamala Harris’ richly textured background, a portrait of America today

The California senator was raised in a multicultural, interfaith family, and has also created one of her own. Her experience reflects the fact that for many, identity is about choice as much as tradition.

Usha Haley was surprised at the depth of her own reaction when she heard that Sen. Kamala Harris would be the Democratic Party’s nominee for vice president.

An accomplished economist whose centrist politics sometimes tend to the right, Dr. Haley says her response was “really an emotional one,” since there are a number of policy positions...