The controversy surrounding Kamala Harris’s racial identity has resurfaced after Donald Trump went to the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) convention and claimed Harris only recently started identifying as Black to help her Presidential Campaign.
Stepping Out of the Race
After an assassination attempt increased Trump’s popularity so much that his Presidential win seemed almost to be a certainty, President Biden decided to step out of the race in the face of increasing pressure from Democratic lawmakers and donors.
Biden’s Greatest Honor
In his statement, Biden stated, “It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve as your president… I believe it is in the best interests of my party and the country for me to stand down.”
Biden’s Endorsement
After announcing he would not seek re-election, President Biden endorsed his Vice President Kamala Harris for the Democratic presidential nomination.
Biden’s Best Decision
In his endorsement, Biden said, “I want to offer my full support and endorsement for Kamala to be the nominee of our party this year. Democrats — it’s time to come together and beat Trump. Let’s do this.”
Harris’ Reaction to Biden’s Decision
After Biden made his decision to step down from his re-election campaign, Harris described Biden’s decision as a “selfless and patriotic act,” and highlighted his commitment to putting the American people first.
Honored to be Endorsed
Harris stated, “I am honored to have the President’s endorsement and my intention is to earn and win this nomination.”
Uniting the Democratic Party
Harris then went on to say, “I will do everything in my power to unite the Democratic Party—and unite our nation—to defeat Donald Trump and his extreme Project 2025 agenda.”
Trump’s Remarks at NABJ
Now, with Harris as Trump’s Presidential opponent, he has already begun his offensive against the current Vice President with just as much controversy as you might expect.
Downplaying Heritage
Trump just went to the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) convention and accused Harris of downplaying her Black heritage and questioning her racial identity.
Turning Black
Trump said, “She was always of Indian heritage, and she was only promoting the Indian heritage. I didn’t know she was Black until a number of years ago, when she happened to turn Black, and now she wants to be known as Black.”
Harris’s Heritage and Public Identity
However, Kamala Harris was born to an Indian mother and a Black Jamaican father and has consistently identified as both Black and South Asian American throughout her career.
Misinformation and Fact-Checking
Reuters and other fact-checking organizations have already debunked the misinformation about Harris’s racial identity, reaffirming her long-standing self-identification as Black and South Asian American.
Public and Political Reactions
Unsurprisingly, Trump’s comments led to a backlash from various quarters, including Vice President Harris and other prominent figures who criticized Trump’s disrespect.
Same Old Show
When Harris responded to Trump’s comments, she said, “It was the same old show − the divisiveness and the disrespect.”
White House’s Stance
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre condemned Trump’s remarks, emphasizing that no one has the right to dictate someone’s identity.
Telling Someone Who They Are
In a White House press briefing, Jean-Pierre said, “What you just read out to me is repulsive. It’s insulting. No one has the right to tell someone who they are, how they identify.”
Criticism From Other Political Figures
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg also warned that Trump’s attacks would intensify as Harris gains in the polls, highlighting Trump’s pattern of escalating rhetoric when threatened.
More and More Outrageous
Buttigieg said during an MSNBC interview, “The more she pulls ahead, the more you’re gonna see, I think, Trump revert to the only thing he knows how to do when he’s trying to get attention, which is to get more and more outrageous.”
Historical Context and Achievements
Harris’s historical achievements include being the first woman, the first Black American, and the first South Asian American elected Vice President. She graduated from Howard University, a prestigious HBCU.
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Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock / mark reinstein.
