Malcolm Rivera
Kamala Harris is a multiracial American politician and attorney who served as the 49th vice president of the United States from 2021 to 2025. Harris is the daughter of an Indian mother and a Jamaican father, making her the first woman, the first Black American, and the first South Asian American to hold the office of Vice President. Harris' racial identity has been a topic of discussion and scrutiny, with some questioning the authenticity of her Black identity and her Indian heritage. Despite the criticism, Harris' diverse background has been celebrated by many, reflecting the stories of millions of multiracial Americans.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Race | Black and South Asian |
| Nationality | American |
| Citizenship | U.S. Citizen |
| Gender | Female |
| Political Party | Democratic Party |
| Profession | Politician and Attorney |
| Current Position | Vice President of the United States |
| Previous Position | United States Senator representing California |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
- Kamala Harris is biracial
- She is the daughter of an Indian mother and a Jamaican father
- Harris is the first woman of Black and South Asian heritage to be a major party's presidential nominee
- Harris identifies as Black and embraces her racial identity
- Harris is the first Black and first Asian-American vice president
Kamala Harris is biracial
Harris has spoken about her multiracial background and upbringing, paying tribute to her roots and honouring the multicultural village of "aunties" and "uncles" in California's Bay Area. Her racial and cultural background has been a significant aspect of her political career, with some of her supporters celebrating her identity through positive political memes. Harris's identity as a biracial woman has been viewed as a strength by some and a weakness by others.
Harris's race has been a topic of discussion and scrutiny during her political campaigns. In 2024, she became the first woman of Black and South Asian heritage to be a major party's presidential nominee. Despite this, she did not explicitly mention the racial and gender firsts she would set if elected. Instead, she focused on direct mentions of her multiracial background.
Harris's racial identity has been questioned and attacked by opponents, including former President Donald Trump, who falsely suggested that she had misled voters about her racial identity. Trump's comments tapped into the long history of racism in America, where racial categories have been defined and policed by white people. However, Harris's multiracial background has also been a source of connection and representation for many Americans who identify as multiracial.
Blocking Political Calls: Regain Your Peace
You may want to see also
She is the daughter of an Indian mother and a Jamaican father
Kamala Harris is the daughter of an Indian mother and a Jamaican father. Her mother, Shyamala Gopalan, was a biologist who moved to the United States from India in 1958 to pursue graduate studies in endocrinology at the University of California, Berkeley. Gopalan's research on the progesterone receptor gene led to significant advances in breast cancer research. Harris's father, Donald J. Harris, is an Afro-Jamaican who immigrated to the United States in 1961 and also studied at the University of California, Berkeley, specializing in development economics. He later became the first Black scholar to be granted tenure at Stanford University's economics department.
Harris's parents met in 1962 and married in 1963. The family initially lived in Berkeley until they moved around 1966, when Harris was about two years old. They then resided in various college towns in the Midwest, including Urbana, Illinois, where her sister Maya was born, as well as Evanston, Illinois, and Madison, Wisconsin. By 1970, the marriage had ended, and Shyamala moved back to Berkeley with her two daughters. Following the divorce, Harris and her sister spent weekends at their father's house in Palo Alto while living with their mother during the week.
Harris's multiracial background has been a significant aspect of her political career and campaigns. She has been subjected to scrutiny and attacks on her racial identity by opponents, particularly by former President Donald Trump, who questioned her Black heritage and suggested that she changed how she presented her race. Despite these criticisms, Harris's diverse background has also been a source of celebration and connection with many Americans who identify as multiracial and see their own stories reflected in her layered heritage.
Harris has achieved several firsts due to her racial and gender background. When she became the Vice President in 2021, she was the first woman, the first Black American, and the first South Asian American to hold that office. Additionally, she is the highest-ranking female and Asian American official in U.S. history. Harris's political career and accomplishments have broken barriers and represented a step forward in terms of inclusivity and representation in American politics.
Voters' Concerns: City Funding and the Voice of the People
You may want to see also
Harris is the first woman of Black and South Asian heritage to be a major party's presidential nominee
Kamala Harris is an American politician and attorney who served as the 49th vice president of the United States from 2021 to 2025. She was the first woman of Black and South Asian heritage to be a major party's presidential nominee. Harris is of Indian-Jamaican heritage, with her mother, Shyamala Gopalan, being Indian and her father, Donald J. Harris, being Jamaican.
Harris has been the subject of scrutiny and racist and sexist misinformation regarding her racial and ethnic identity. In 2024, former President Donald Trump falsely suggested that Harris had misled voters about her racial identity, stating that he did not know she was Black and questioning whether she was Indian or Black. Despite the backlash, Harris did not explicitly mention the racial and gender firsts she would set if elected to the White House. Instead, she chose to directly acknowledge her multiracial background and upbringing, paying tribute to her roots and honouring her multicultural village of "aunties" and "uncles" in California's Bay Area.
Harris's biracial identity has been viewed as either a strength or a weakness, depending on the perspective. Her supporters have embraced her identity, turning the criticism into positive political memes that celebrate her diversity. On the other hand, Republicans have used her identity against her, questioning her qualifications based on her racial and ethnic background. Despite the mixed reactions, Harris's nomination as the first woman of Black and South Asian heritage to be a major party's presidential nominee is a significant step forward in representation and inclusivity in American politics.
Harris's racial and cultural background took centre stage during the Democratic Convention, with civil rights leader Rev. Al Sharpton noting that Shirley Chisholm, the first Black woman elected to Congress who ran for president in 1972, would be proud of Harris's accomplishment. Harris's own background reflects the diverse and multicultural nature of American society, with over 33 million Americans identifying as multiracial and seeing themselves reflected in Harris's layered background.
Donating to Biden's Campaign: Easy Steps to Support Him
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Harris identifies as Black and embraces her racial identity
Kamala Harris, the former Vice President of the United States, identifies as Black and embraces her racial identity. Harris is the daughter of an Indian mother and a Jamaican father, making her biracial with Black and South Asian heritage. She has a multiracial background and upbringing, which she has often mentioned in her political career. Harris is the first woman of Black and South Asian heritage to be a major party's presidential nominee.
Harris's racial identity has been a topic of discussion and scrutiny during her political career, with some questioning the authenticity of her Black identity. During the 2024 presidential election, Harris's opponent, Donald Trump, falsely claimed that Harris had "happened to turn Black" and questioned her racial identity in an attempt to diminish her support among Black voters. Despite these attacks, Harris has embraced her Black identity and has worked to appeal to Black voters through conversations at barber shops and historically Black colleges and universities.
Harris's supporters have celebrated her identity and turned the critiques into positive political memes, attesting to her popularity with a younger, media-savvy electorate. Harris's multiracial background has resonated with millions of Americans who identify as multiracial and see themselves reflected in her layered background. She has paid tribute to her roots and honoured her multicultural upbringing, showcasing her personal story while offering a visual political message that appeals to a broad range of people.
Harris's identification as a Black woman has had a significant impact on her political career and the perception of her candidacy among voters. Research shows that a political candidate's race plays a critical role in mobilizing support, especially within the Black electorate. In the 2024 election, Harris secured 83% of the Black vote, highlighting the importance of shared racial identity in influencing voting behaviour.
While Harris identifies as Black and embraces her racial identity, there have been differing perceptions and discussions about her multiracial background. Some Black Americans believed that Harris was not genuinely Black, while others proudly celebrated her achievement as the first Black woman to accept the nomination for president of the United States. Overall, Harris's identification as a Black woman has been a significant aspect of her political career and has influenced her connection with voters, particularly within the Black community.
Donors Behind Kamala Harris: Who Funds Her Campaigns?
You may want to see also
Harris is the first Black and first Asian-American vice president
Kamala Harris is the first Black and first Asian-American vice president of the United States. Harris, who served as vice president from 2021 to 2025, is of multiracial heritage, with a Black Jamaican father and an Indian mother. Despite this, her racial identity has been the subject of scrutiny and false claims by political opponents, including former President Donald Trump. Trump has repeatedly suggested that Harris's racial identity is a political ploy to gain support from Black voters, despite her long history of embracing her African American and South Asian heritage.
Harris's multiracial background reflects the increasing diversity of the United States, where the number of people identifying as multiracial has been steadily rising. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, around 12.5% of U.S. residents identified as two or more races in 2022, a significant increase from 3% a decade earlier. Harris's vice presidency represents a milestone in terms of racial representation in American politics, particularly for Black Americans and Asian Americans.
Harris's racial and cultural background took centre stage during the Democratic Convention. While Harris herself did not explicitly mention the racial firsts she would achieve if elected, she did pay tribute to her roots, honouring her mother, a brown woman from India, and her father, a Caribbean man from Jamaica. She also acknowledged her multicultural village of "aunties" and "uncles" in California's Bay Area, reflecting her own diverse upbringing.
Harris's biracial identity has been a topic of discussion among both her supporters and opponents. While some see her multiracial background as a strength, others have attempted to use it against her. During her time as vice president, Harris faced criticism and attacks on her race, particularly from Republicans. Despite this, her supporters celebrated her identity, creating positive political memes that attested to her popularity, especially among younger, media-savvy voters.
Harris's vice presidency broke racial and gender barriers, setting a precedent for future generations of politicians. As the first Black and Asian-American woman to hold the office, she inspired people of diverse backgrounds and paved the way for increased representation in American politics.
Kamala Harris' Rallies: Size, Enthusiasm, and Impact
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Kamala Harris is biracial, with a Black Jamaican father and an Indian mother.
No, Kamala Harris has never been the US president. She was the first female US vice president, serving under President Joe Biden from 2021 to 2025.
Yes, Kamala Harris ran for president in 2024. She was the Democratic presidential nominee but lost to the Republican nominees, former president Trump and Ohio senator JD Vance.
Kamala Harris is an American citizen. She was born in Oakland, California.
Kamala Harris is an American politician and attorney. She has served as a United States senator representing California and as the attorney general of California.
