Has Kamala Harris identified as being Indian?

[Aldebaran]

Looking back at articles posted during the campaign to get Joe Biden elected as president, and Harris as VP, it appears she did identify as Indian rather than black.

In Kamala Harris' presidential campaign, Indian Americans want more opportunities to connect

While the California Democrat has caught the eyes of South Asian voters, some say her ethnic background isn't enough for them to identify with her.

www.nbcnews.com

Now that a woman with Indian roots, Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., is running in the 2020 presidential race, Dass, a Democrat, will have some decisions to make.

“I am proud that she is Indian, but I will not support her because she is Indian,” Dass, who immigrated to the United States in 1966, said. “I will support her if she is good for us, good for the country.”

Kamala Harris says inspired by her super hero Indian-American mother

Harris, 54, is the first Indian-origin Senator in the US. Her mother Shyamala Gopalan Harris immigrated to the US for studies at the age of 19 from Tamil Nadu.

economictimes.indiatimes.com

Harris, 54, is the first Indian-origin Senator in the US. Her mother Shyamala Gopalan Harris immigrated to the US for studies at the age of 19 from Tamil Nadu. She married Donald Harris an African American born in Jamaica in 1938.

https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2019/04/17/shes-a-black-woman-shes-an-indian-american-also-226656/

Harris’ crowd-pleasing response—she threw up her hands and loudly exclaimed, “Yes!”—convinced Kapur of her Indian-American bona fides, he says. This year, he plans to raise $10 million from Indian-American donors for Harris’ 2020 presidential campaign.

 

[durangodawood]

Im sure she has identified as Indian, as a matter of ethnic origin. And black too. Why wouldnt she?

 

[Aldebaran]

Im sure she has identified as Indian, as a matter of ethnic origin. And black too. Why wouldnt she?

The bigger question is why is it assumed to be such a terrible thing that Trump pointed out that she identified as being Indian when it was politically beneficial, and now identifies as black when it's politically beneficial. She either did or she didn't. Clearly, she did. So Trump wasn't saying anything untrue by pointing it out to the organization that only includes journalists who are black.

 

[That Guy 11200]

Who cares?

Oh, that's right. Racists.

 

[childeye 2]

The bigger question is why is it assumed to be such a terrible thing that Trump pointed out that she identified as being Indian when it was politically beneficial, and now identifies as black when it's politically beneficial. She either did or she didn't. Clearly, she did. So Trump wasn't saying anything untrue by pointing it out to the organization that only includes journalists who are black.

So, if it's true that's what Trump was insinuating, it doesn't make it true, particularly in the context of the question being asked.

 

[Aldebaran]

So, if it's true that's what Trump was insinuating, it doesn't make it true, particularly in the context of the question being asked.

The articles I posted in the OP indicate that it's true.
I could post more if you want me to.

 

[Aldebaran]

Who cares?

Oh, that's right. Racists.

The people asking the questions at the Black Journalists Association seemed to care quite a bit.

 

[That Guy 11200]

The people asking the questions at the Black Journalists Association seemed to care quite a bit.

How does that change what I just said?

 

[durangodawood]

The bigger question is why is it assumed to be such a terrible thing that Trump pointed out that she identified as being Indian when it was politically beneficial, and now identifies as black when it's politically beneficial. She either did or she didn't. Clearly, she did. So Trump wasn't saying anything untrue by pointing it out to the organization that only includes journalists who are black.

Ah I see. We're trying to rescue Trump from his idiotic face plant.

Politically beneficial is what people do in her position. As long as no one gets hurt I couldn't care less.

Next up she's going to announce a straight white male running mate - because that would be politically beneficial. But who cares. He'll be perfectly qualified.

 

[Aldebaran]

How does that change what I just said?

I wasn't changing it. I was simply clarifying by answering your question.

 

[childeye 2]

The articles I posted in the OP indicate that it's true.
I could post more if you want me to.

I've seen plenty of articles and videos where she identifies as both Indian and Jamaican.

The whole argument usually gets lost in unstable terminology. For one thing, race theory is based on genetic ancestry and the theory that one person's genes are superior or inferior to another's. Skin color does not qualify as a race nor ethnicity even though discrimination against a person because of skin color does qualify as a negative prejudice. To complicate matters further African American's often use the term Black to refer to the unique culture of people who came out of slavery, and not skin color.

 

[Aldebaran]

Ah I see. We're trying to rescue Trump from his idiotic face plant.

Politically beneficial is what people do in her position. As long as no one gets hurt I couldn't care less.

Next up she's going to announce a straight white male running mate - because that would be politically beneficial. But who cares. He'll be perfectly qualified.

Playing the race card to be politically beneficial is hardly genuine. She should focus more on what policies she would put forward, and what her values are instead of trying to get elected for being "Indian", and then "black" when she thinks that would help more. Why not run as an American citizen who wants to serve everyone who is American? I'd rather vote for someone based on their policies rather than how they rank on the color bar. Wouldn't you?

 

[Aldebaran]

I've seen plenty of articles and videos where she identifies as both Indian and Jamaican.

The whole argument is based on unsound terminology. For one thing, race theory is based on genetic ancestry and the theory that one person's genes are superior or inferior to another's. Skin color does not qualify as a race nor ethnicity even though discrimination against a person because of skin color does qualify as a negative prejudice. To complicate matters further African American's often use the term Black to refer to the unique culture of people who came out of slavery.

She came out of slavery, but not in a way she would prefer we know about: Kamala Harris is a descendant of an Irish slave owner in Jamaica

 

[iluvatar5150]

The bigger question is why is it assumed to be such a terrible thing that Trump pointed out that she identified as being Indian when it was politically beneficial, and now identifies as black when it's politically beneficial. She either did or she didn't. Clearly, she did. So Trump wasn't saying anything untrue by pointing it out to the organization that only includes journalists who are black.

There are two problems with that: That only summarizes part of Trump's comments, and in the part you summarized, Trump was wrong. Regarding Trump being wrong about his claim that she was Indian and then "turned" Black - here are several articles dated several years ago referring to her being Black:

2010:

A 'female Obama' seeks California attorney general post

She's been called "the female Obama" by some media, and the president even paid her a visit this week to help her political fortunes. Like Barack Obama, she aspires to a lot of firsts.

www.cnn.com

2015:

7 Things You Need To Know About Kamala Harris

Kamala Harris will launch her campaign Tuesday to replace Barbara Boxer in her Senate seat from California.

time.com

2016:

Kamala Harris Aims to Make History in California, Again - Roll Call

Kamala Harris broke down barriers in California politics during a decades-long career in criminal justice. In 2016, she’s on track to do so again — this time on the national stage. A career that began in the Alameda County district attorney’s office is now poised to take Harris — if things go...

rollcall.com

2020, just for lolz:

Opinion | Kamala Harris is both Asian and Black. Why do people still need to question that?

Questions about what constitutes Blackness aren’t new. Black people's ability to answer those questions for themselves is.

www.nbcnews.com

Regarding the accuracy of your summary, here's the entire transcript, and the relevant exchange:

INTERVIEWER: I just defined it, sir. Do you believe that Vice President Kamala Harris is only on the ticket because she is a black woman?

DONALD TRUMP: Well, I can say no. I think it’s maybe a little bit different. So I’ve known her a long time indirectly, not directly very much, and she was always of Indian heritage, and she was only promoting Indian heritage. I didn’t know she was black until a number of years ago when she happened to turn black, and now she wants to be known as black. So I don’t know. Is she Indian, or is she black?

INTERVIEWER: She is always identified as a black woman from a historically black college.

DONALD TRUMP: I respect either one, but she obviously doesn’t, because she was Indian all the way, and then all of a sudden she made a turn, and she went, she became a black person.

He didn't just say that she used one and then another. He said "she obviously doesn't [respect either one]," implying that she somehow betrayed her heritage.

 

[durangodawood]

Playing the race card to be politically beneficial is hardly genuine. She should focus more on what policies she would put forward, and what her values are instead of trying to get elected for being "Indian", and then "black" when she thinks that would help more. Why not run as an American citizen who wants to serve everyone who is American? I'd rather vote for someone based on their policies rather than how they rank on the color bar. Wouldn't you?

No.. you should focus more on what policies she would put forward. She spends most of her time talking about what she offers - and how lousty her opponent is, of course.

All this identity stuff is there, but its a complete side show. I can understand why some people would want to make it center stage when her opponent looks so shaky tho.

 

[wing2000]

Playing the race card to be politically beneficial is hardly genuine. She should focus more on what policies she would put forward, and what her values are instead of trying to get elected for being "Indian", and then "black" when she thinks that would help more. Why not run as an American citizen who wants to serve everyone who is American? I'd rather vote for someone based on their policies rather than how they rank on the color bar. Wouldn't you?

...it was Donald Trump who focussed on race in his answer.
...it was Donald Trump who suggested illegal immigrants would take "black jobs"
...and it is Donald Trump who continues to focus on race and division in his Truth Social postings over night.

 

[iluvatar5150]

She came out of slavery, but not in a way she would prefer we know about: Kamala Harris is a descendant of an Irish slave owner in Jamaica

What do you mean by "not in a way she would prefer we know about"?

 

[childeye 2]

She came out of slavery, but not in a way she would prefer we know about: Kamala Harris is a descendant of an Irish slave owner in Jamaica

She doesn't strike me as a person who is hiding her ancestry, and it shouldn't even matter.

 

[Tropical Wilds]

Looking back at articles posted during the campaign to get Joe Biden elected as president, and Harris as VP, it appears she did identify as Indian rather than black.

In Kamala Harris' presidential campaign, Indian Americans want more opportunities to connect

While the California Democrat has caught the eyes of South Asian voters, some say her ethnic background isn't enough for them to identify with her.

www.nbcnews.com

Now that a woman with Indian roots, Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., is running in the 2020 presidential race, Dass, a Democrat, will have some decisions to make.

“I am proud that she is Indian, but I will not support her because she is Indian,” Dass, who immigrated to the United States in 1966, said. “I will support her if she is good for us, good for the country.”

Kamala Harris says inspired by her super hero Indian-American mother

Harris, 54, is the first Indian-origin Senator in the US. Her mother Shyamala Gopalan Harris immigrated to the US for studies at the age of 19 from Tamil Nadu.

economictimes.indiatimes.com

Harris, 54, is the first Indian-origin Senator in the US. Her mother Shyamala Gopalan Harris immigrated to the US for studies at the age of 19 from Tamil Nadu. She married Donald Harris an African American born in Jamaica in 1938.

https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2019/04/17/shes-a-black-woman-shes-an-indian-american-also-226656/

Harris’ crowd-pleasing response—she threw up her hands and loudly exclaimed, “Yes!”—convinced Kapur of her Indian-American bona fides, he says. This year, he plans to raise $10 million from Indian-American donors for Harris’ 2020 presidential campaign.

Read the article again… It’s about how she polls with Indian voters, not what she identifies as. And it contains this quote:

“Community leaders say many Indian Americans and South Asians remain unaware of Harris’ Indian heritage, even with a Sanskrit first name like Kamala, which means “lotus,” and with frequent coverage of her in Indian ethnic media.

“They think of her as black,” said Annetta Seecharran, executive director of Chhaya Community Development Corp. in Jackson Heights, an organization that advocates for the housing needs of New York City’s South Asian community.”

 

[Aldebaran]

There are two problems with that: That only summarizes part of Trump's comments, and in the part you summarized, Trump was wrong. Regarding Trump being wrong about his claim that she was Indian and then "turned" Black - here are several articles dated several years ago referring to her being Black:

2010:

A 'female Obama' seeks California attorney general post

She's been called "the female Obama" by some media, and the president even paid her a visit this week to help her political fortunes. Like Barack Obama, she aspires to a lot of firsts.

www.cnn.com

2015:

7 Things You Need To Know About Kamala Harris

Kamala Harris will launch her campaign Tuesday to replace Barbara Boxer in her Senate seat from California.

time.com

2016:

Kamala Harris Aims to Make History in California, Again - Roll Call

Kamala Harris broke down barriers in California politics during a decades-long career in criminal justice. In 2016, she’s on track to do so again — this time on the national stage. A career that began in the Alameda County district attorney’s office is now poised to take Harris — if things go...

rollcall.com

2020, just for lolz:

Opinion | Kamala Harris is both Asian and Black. Why do people still need to question that?

Questions about what constitutes Blackness aren’t new. Black people's ability to answer those questions for themselves is.

www.nbcnews.com

Regarding the accuracy of your summary, here's the entire transcript, and the relevant exchange:


He didn't just say that she used one and then another. He said "she obviously doesn't [respect either one]," implying that she somehow betrayed her heritage.

Well, it's true! She doesn't respect either one if she sees them as interchangeable based on what is convenient at the moment.
For example, Barack Obama is half black and half white. Did he ever identify as a white man? Of course not! By your reasoning, it would have been just as true for him to identify as white as it would be to identify as black. But for him to identify as white wouldn't be convenient (even though we supposedly live in a society with "white privilege). He enjoyed being president of the USA for 8 years identifying as black.