Janet Jackson has sparked controversy with her recent comments regarding Vice President Kamala Harris’s racial identity, claiming that Harris is not Black and that her father is white. This echoes unfounded assertions made by Donald Trump during the election campaign.
During an interview, Jackson, 58, was asked about the significance of having the first female Black vice president. In her response, she questioned Harris’s heritage, stating, “She’s not Black. That’s what I heard. That she’s Indian. Her father’s white. That’s what I was told.” Jackson admitted she hadn’t followed the news closely, but mentioned hearing that Harris’s father was discovered to be white.
Kamala Harris, born to an Indian mother, Shyamala Gopalan, and a Jamaican father, Donald Harris, is proud of her diverse heritage. Gopalan was a noted cancer researcher, and Donald Harris is a retired economics professor.
Jackson’s comments closely mirror those made by Trump earlier this year, where he suggested that Harris only recently embraced her Black identity. He questioned, “So I don’t know, is she Indian or is she Black?” and claimed she had always promoted her Indian heritage.
“he was Indian all the way, and then all of a sudden she made a turn and she went,” Trump said. “She became a Black person. I think somebody should look into that too.”
Harris has consistently spoken about her appreciation for both sides of her cultural background. A graduate of Howard University, she is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha, one of the oldest Black sororities in the U.S. In her memoir, Harris discusses how her Jamaican father instilled a deep pride in their heritage, while her mother shared Indian culture through cooking and family visits.
Harris has described her grandfather as a significant influence in her life, highlighting the duality of her identity. In a 2009 interview, she reflected on the impact of her upbringing, emphasizing the importance of both her Jamaican and Indian roots.
