In the realm of politics, identity often becomes a tool to shape public perception. Kamala Harris, the first female vice president of the United States, has frequently been categorized by media outlets in a manner that seems to serve broader societal narratives. One aspect of this is the insistence by predominantly white media to frame her almost exclusively as a “Black woman.” But this oversimplification of Harris’s complex identity raises questions: Why is the media so intent on presenting her in this way, and what does this say about race, representation, and the American media landscape?
The Complexities of Kamala Harris’s Identity
Kamala Harris is of mixed heritage: her mother is Indian, and her father is Jamaican. Her life is a testament to the rich, multicultural tapestry of America. Yet, the media narrative often neglects the full breadth of her background, seemingly more comfortable with the familiar and often reductive category of “Black.” It’s important to note that Harris herself acknowledges her multiethnic identity and often speaks about her experience as a daughter of immigrants from both South Asia and the Caribbean.
By simplifying Harris’s identity, the media neglects her South Asian roots, which are just as significant in shaping who she is. This “Black woman” label doesn’t just erase part of her heritage; it reflects a longstanding tendency of the American media to categorize mixed-race individuals in ways that conform to racial binaries. This, in turn, ignores the fluid and multifaceted ways many people experience race in the modern world.
Why the “Black Woman” Label?
There are several reasons why white media may choose to lean so heavily into this framing.
- The “One-Drop” Rule: Historically, America has applied the infamous “one-drop” rule, where any Black ancestry makes a person “Black.” While legally obsolete, its legacy still influences how multiracial individuals, especially those with African ancestry, are seen. By framing Harris as Black, media outlets continue this tradition, offering a simplistic view of race that still resonates with many Americans.
- Symbolism in American Politics: The portrayal of Harris as a Black woman fits neatly into a broader narrative of progress in American racial politics. For a country still grappling with the deep scars of slavery, segregation, and systemic racism, electing a Black female vice president is a powerful symbol. The media, driven by the desire for narratives of progress, may find it convenient to focus on Harris’s Blackness while sidestepping the complexities of her identity.
- Appealing to Specific Audiences: Media outlets also shape stories to appeal to specific demographics. By emphasizing her Black identity, the media taps into the pride and hope of African American communities, who see Harris as a historic figure. This focus can also create a relatable figure for Black voters, an important demographic in U.S. elections.
What’s Lost in the Process?
While celebrating Harris’s achievements as a melanated woman is important, the media’s selective framing creates unintended consequences:
- Erasure of South Asian Identity: By emphasizing her Black identity, Harris’s South Asian heritage becomes a footnote in the story. This not only diminishes the experiences of Indian Americans but also ignores how diverse and intersectional her experiences as a woman of color truly are.
- Perpetuation of Racial Binaries: The constant categorization of Harris into one racial box highlights how the media continues to operate within rigid racial binaries, oversimplifying the identities of people in ways that ignore the nuance of lived experience. This denies the opportunity to discuss race in a broader and more inclusive context.
- Fitting into a Media Narrative: The media often tries to reduce complex figures into easily digestible tropes. By casting Harris primarily as a Black woman, they are potentially stripping away the nuances of her experiences, making her identity fit a narrative that feels more familiar and comfortable for a country used to looking at race in binaries.
Moving Toward a More Inclusive Narrative
The conversation about Kamala Harris’s identity offers an opportunity to reexamine how race is discussed in America. By acknowledging and celebrating the full complexity of her heritage, we can move beyond simplistic racial categories and towards a deeper understanding of how identity is formed. It’s not just about Black or white, but about embracing the multifaceted and intersectional identities that make America what it is today.
The media has a responsibility to present the full picture of who Harris is—both a Black woman and a South Asian woman. In doing so, we can start to move away from the narrow categories that have long shaped American racial discourse and embrace the complexity and richness of individual identity.
Why I Feel It’s Wrong To Label Kamala Harris A Black Woman
Kamala Harris has a multiethnic background that doesn’t identify with the average black American woman experience so there is no connection other than skin color. White media seems to intentionally label every melanated person as black or mixed with black and that needs to change because it erases the authenticity of what black American is. What I am saying is in the United States, “Black” is not just a descriptor of skin color; it carries the weight of centuries of enslavement, segregation, systemic racism, and the fight for civil rights. It is an identity shaped by the black American struggle for recognition, justice, and equality. When Americans refer to someone as Black, they are often invoking this complex historical narrative.
It also perpetuates the toxic strong black woman trope which is really counterproductive for most American black woman in my opinion because every black woman is often placed in this category that all of us don’t want. Being the glamorized black female work mule is not a flex to all black american woman its actually oppressive and exhausting, and it also causes heath problems including weight problems. The strong black female workmule also affects affects our intimacy with our partners in most cases which makes us seem undesirable and undateble to the men that we love and want to feel protection from, but I digress… Back to the black label topic being problematic.
Applying the black label to people from other regions with no connection to this history dilutes the specificity of Black identity in the U.S. context. The struggles of black Americans are distinct from the struggles of dark-skinned people in other parts of the world, whose experiences with colonialism, caste systems, or other forms of oppression are rooted in different historical realities. These differences matter, and they should not be erased for the sake of convenience.