In one of the more peculiar controversies of this presidential race, Donald Trump’s allies are targeting Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee, for supposedly misrepresenting herself as a “daughter of Oakland,” California. Fox News host Jesse Watters even brandished Harris’s birth certificate, which lists a Berkeley address, as evidence. This tactic not only echoes the disreputable “birther” attacks on President Barack Obama but also highlights a deeper issue: an effort to paint Harris as deceitful and inauthentic.
“Kamala Harris grew up in Berkeley, the People’s Republic of Berkeley. Berserkeley, the most insanely liberal precinct in America,” Watters said during a Fox News segment. “Her birth certificate lists an apartment right next to Berkeley’s campus. It’s a half block south of People’s Park, which is basically ground zero for every single radical protest movement. Kamala attended Berkeley public schools and was even bused to Berkeley public schools. Remember that little girl was me, if you lie about where you grew up, which is at the core of who you are. People can’t trust you,” he concluded.
However, the outrage from Trump’s circle over Kamala Harris’s birthplace reveals a glaring double standard.
The debate over a politician’s origins is often less about geography and more about identity. Candidates frequently emphasize their chosen places of origin to align with the identity they wish to project. For instance, President Joe Biden frequently mentions his Scranton, Pennsylvania, roots. While he was born there, Biden’s family moved to Delaware when he was young, and he later settled in Wilmington, earning him the nickname “Delaware Joe.”
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Politicians, including Harris, understand that the notion of “where you’re from” is tied to identity and image rather than mere geography. Supporters appreciate Harris’s association with Oakland, a city with a storied history of Black resistance and activism, including the founding of the Black Panther Party. This connection is politically advantageous, reflecting Harris’s alignment with values of resilience and social justice. In contrast, her critics question this association to undermine her credibility and authenticity, echoing similar criticisms faced by other politicians.
The importance of a candidate’s hometown often lies in what it represents rather than its factual accuracy. Barack Obama highlighted his Kansas and Hawaiian roots while embracing Chicago, where he made his political mark. Similarly, Jeb Bush and George W. Bush downplayed their Maine connections to appeal to voters in Florida and Texas, respectively. Donald Trump, though from Queens, sought to be seen as a “king of Manhattan.”
Criticism of Harris’s birthplace can be seen as part of a broader pattern where Black candidates are held to stricter standards of authenticity. This scrutiny reflects an underlying bias, questioning their legitimacy more rigorously than that of their peers. Instead of focusing on whether Harris’s claim of being “the daughter of Oakland” is strictly accurate, we should consider why such claims are scrutinized more intensely for Black politicians.
Ultimately, the question of where Harris considers home is less about her birth certificate and more about the narrative she chooses to present. Her identification with Oakland reveals her alignment with its legacy of activism and resistance, offering a political and symbolic connection rather than a geographical one.
Watch the clip below:
Jesse Watters uses Kamala Harris’ birth certificate to claim she didn’t didn’t grow up in Oakland pic.twitter.com/ksM0zjcrlk
— Acyn (@Acyn) August 27, 2024
