Freshly anointed with the esteemed title of a ‘nasty woman’, Kamala Harris, undeterred, saunters down to the White House, alongside sleepy Joe.
It seems like all America can think of at any given situation is race. If an alien were to walk out of Area 51, the topic of debate would be its skin color. Vice Presidential nominee, Kamala Harris appears to have fallen into this standard trope of being reduced to her racial identity.
Harris identifies as a black woman whilst often bringing up her Indian upbringing. Born to a Jamaican father and a Tamilian mother in Oakland, California, her two (vote banks)-in-one identity coupled with her gender, checks all the right Democrat boxes.
This is where the Republican counter argument becomes interesting. They claim that Kamala Harris isn’t black enough. What’s ironic about this, as Daily Show host Trevor Noah cleverly points out is that “it’s the reverse of what white America did for centuries” by “defining as many people as Black as possible, whether they wanted it or not.”
Guess who was also labeled as not black enough before getting elected— Barack Obama.
The racial debate in the States is as political as it gets. Especially in the ‘Black Lives Matter’ climate, both factions are aware of its make or break implications. While the left tries to score as many wins by bringing in race, the conservative strategy to take that away is by shouting not black enough.
Another area Harris has been scoring big wins in, is through her India connect. While accepting her nomination at the Democratic convention, she thanked her chithis ("aunts" in Tamil) instantly winning over the South Asian fanbase in America as well as all the way back in India. Journalist Sagarika Ghose, cheekily writes - Kamal ka phool may not have conquered Tamil Nadu, but Harris’s growing legions of fans have become Kamala ke fools. Meanwhile, the NRI, Trump-Modi champions appear stumped at this unforeseen pull to their heart strings. Although, her outspokenness on Kashmir— ‘we have to remind Kashmiris that they are not alone in the world’— somewhat threaten foreign policy relations with India. After all, we don't really like to speak about that.
The post of Vice President has mattered differently for different Presidents. Mike Pence has been a close second in command to Trump while Biden was a trusted VP to Obama. A Vice President nomination inadvertently means a possible future nominee for Presidency. There have been whispers surrounding Harris's role as VP, since concerns for Biden's old age are rife. If the Democrats win— a biracial woman Vice President has the potential to shift gears for the United States of America.
Only time will tell, what is to come.
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