Kamala Harris: The Myths and Facts

Hopes and Wishes

Courtesy of Kamala Harris for Senate

A lot of people are talking about Kamala, but let’s get the facts straight.

Myths About Kamala’s Racial Background

Myth: Kamala Harris was born outside of the United States Fact: Kamala and her sister were born and raised in Oakland, California and she identifies as an African American woman. Her (late) mother was Indian-American and her father is Jamaican. Kamala is proud of her diverse heritage and she earned her bachelor’s degree from the distinguished Howard University, a historically Black college (HBCU). Her law degree is from the University of California and she is part of the AKA sorority. She is married and has two step children.

Myth: Black is Black no matter where you’re from Fact: Black as a race is not that simple — here’s why: Being “Black” is the unifying thread for people of African descent in the diaspora which was partially created from the slave trade. Africans from various countries were taken to Europe, The Caribbean Islands and North and South America. The people born in those countries identify with their country of birth — just like people of European descent. Consequently, “Black people” speak different languages, and have very diverse food, family, community and cultural traditions, norms, religions and regional dialects even in America, like Gullah and Creole people. Some other things to consider when thinking about black people as a race and “blackness”: 1. Black people are not a monolithic, homogenous culture 2. Race does not acknowledge, identify or define ethnicity, nationality 3. Race does not consider self identity versus perceived identity Therefore, Kamala Harris is African American because she was born in the United States and that’s her self identity.

Hopes and Wishes

1. I hope Joe Biden doesn’t tokenize Kamala and use her as a shield against the culturally insensitive and hurtful remarks he’s made about Black people’s lack of diversity or past policies that have hurt BIPOC
2. I hope Kamala and Biden be proactive and conduct separate internal reviews with regard to diversity, inclusion and bias. I hope they’re transparent about past biased or questionable decisions, policies and other issues and address them head on.
3. I hope they understanding they can’t effectively move forward without addressing past issues and injustices. They need to right some SERIOUS wrongs from both of their pasts with regard to racial disparities and bias in laws and law enforcement, the judicial system, sentencing guidelines, the war on drugs, mass incarceration, legalization, the LGBTQ community, and unfair budgeting for prosecution and defense, etc.
4. I hope America holds them both accountable during the campaign and make them commit to equitable policies and plans like the release and expungement of non violent drug offenders or continued funding for community colleges and HBCUs (a good policy from the current administration). This should continue not because Kamala was a HBCU alumni — but because community colleges and HBCU’s provide great education, more diverse faculty and safe spaces for BIPOC students
5. I hope Joe Biden thinks of Kamala as a true partner because he’s proven that the Black community is his blind spot and he is NOT culturally competent when it comes to Black voters.

My final hope is that Kamala Harris and Joe Biden help to unify this country and start to address and dismantle systemic racism, bias and economic disparities that have weakened, and compromised every city and town and every aspect of American life.

We cannot heal what we don’t acknowledge… A lot of Americans are scared hurt and confused and we need leadership that will listen and make effective and equitable plans and policies to change the trajectory and quality of life for poor, middle class, marginalized and disenfranchised citizens.

I hope they do what’s right and just for ALL people — not just the powerful and privileged…

Sources:

The Britannica

Senator Harris’ Page

CNN.com