Superstar Janet Jackson recently found herself at the centre of controversy after making a statement that Vice President Kamala Harris "is not Black." This simple remark sparked a significant backlash from the mainstream media, which seemed to go into meltdown mode. Were it a less influential public figure, it’s likely that such a comment might have led to full-blown calls for cancellation. So, why is there such an uproar over Harris’s ethnicity, and could Janet Jackson be echoing what many Black Americans and Black people from around the world feel but are hesitant to express?
Kamala Harris has been at the forefront of political campaigns that leverage race as a key component, particularly within the Democratic Party's media narrative. Historically, Democrats have relied heavily on the Black vote, with many African Americans supporting the party out of tradition. Voting Democrat has often been seen as the default for many Black voters. However, this election cycle seems different. The once solid Black voting bloc appears to be shifting, and Harris is particularly unpopular among Black voters. From conversations with various people, it seems that much of the distrust stems from Harris herself. Many feel she lacks credibility—not just as a Black woman, but as a political figure in general.
There will always be a loyal base of Black Democrats who vote for the party no matter the candidate,. However, the more thoughtful and independent Black voters are starting to distance themselves from Harris, and some are even gravitating toward former President Donald Trump. One reason for this shift is the uncertainty surrounding Harris’s background. Her heritage has been the subject of debate, and recent revelations, particularly from conservative commentator Candace Owens, have cast further doubt on the narrative that Harris is authentically Black. Owens, known for her sharp investigations, has brought more attention to inconsistencies in Harris's racial identity that have fueled skepticism among some voters.
Personally, my family, many of whom are from Jamaica (Where Kamala Harris is from) and live in the U.S. and U.K., are unconvinced by Harris’s claims of being Black. Most of them believe she is primarily of Indian and white descent, while a few think she might have some Black ancestry. But overall, there's a sense that Harris may be using her racial identity strategically to secure the Black vote, rather than authentically representing it.
Ultimately, the issue isn't about skin colour but about leadership. In my view, Harris doesn't appear suited to the responsibilities of running the most powerful country in the world. I wouldn't trust her to manage a local school, let alone hold the office of Vice President. However, what puzzles me is why the media is so quick to attack Janet Jackson for expressing what many people are already questioning. Jackson's statement reflects the thoughts of a large segment of the population, and I hope she remains steadfast in her opinion, despite the media’s reaction. She is, after all, saying what many are already thinking.
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