Kamala Harris..

[Movingonup67]

What is your opinion of her?

@GroundAlmonds

She seems great.

My only slight reservation about this situation (not about her) is that she is the second “black” person in the White House and neither of them were of slave descent. Obama had white American mother and black African father. Harris had a Jamaican father and a maternal family of relatively successful Africa-based Asians.

Which is great, but it’s beginning to look a bit conspicuous that African American descended from freed slaves don’t do so well under the US educational and political systems. So much for “any American child can be president”.

Black people were brought to Jamaica - a former British colony - as slaves in the same way, and at the same time, they were brought to, what was, the British colonies in America. America had a revolution and broke away from the British, Jamaica stayed under British rule. So you are incorrect, Kamala's father would have been the descendant of slaves.

I was excited that a BME woman has made it to VP so googled her and she sounds great.

Kamala's father would have been the descendant of slaves.

Not of American slaves though @BlueCatRedCat

Not that all progress isn’t very good news - it absolutely is - but it seems poignant that neither Barack or Kamala were of African-American descent.

It’s the American presidency, after all.

I don't really need an opinion as she is part of the government of a country I don't live in.

Seems pleasant enough on the video clips though.

Today 09:08 @Flaxmeadow

Her ethnic origin is half black and half Indian

Its interesting that a lot of people in the USA say this, that she is "Black" and "Indian". An odd way of describing someone's heritage. One is an ethnicity and the other a nationality.

Her parents are/were British Jamaican and British Indian

Because everything in American is so hyper racialised, and race is a national obsession. I'm hoping that with her parents heritage she might not be as bogged down in all the identity issues that plague America.

Couldn't agree more. Though would add 'American ethnicity adopted everywhere else'.

Though yes the pronouns thing is slightly worrying
Unless she's made a statement somewhere regarding her stance on this, her pronouns on her bio don't mean much yet.

She seems confident, intelligent and very capable. I prefer her to Biden. Time will tell

She'll probably become president.

Black people were brought to Jamaica - a former British colony - as slaves in the same way, and at the same time, they were brought to, what was, the British colonies in America.

Not necessarily. The Caribbean has a very mixed history. With Spanish and French colonies at various times. Also Native Indian and also Indian/Asian heritage (indenture). There was traditionally more (legal) inter racial marriage in Islands like Jamaica and an older military, police and civic Afro Caribbean class with more likelihood of being sent from the Caribbean to study in a British university. It's a much more ethnically mixed and complicated history than the USA and Afro Carribeans have more slave/slave owner ancestry, not just white slave owners but black slave owners too

America had a revolution and broke away from the British, Jamaica stayed under British rule. So you are incorrect, Kamala's father would have been the descendant of slaves

That they broke away from the British didn't help US slaves with emancipation for many years longer than if they'd been British.

With millions of people descended from Anglo Indians and the history of the Caribbean. I suppose it could he argued that Kamala Harris, and Obama, are more British than North American in their heritage. Not sure how that would go down in the states though

It makes me happy to think that there is a black woman as VP. I'm sure she's not perfect, she'll make mistakes, she cannot possibly live up to all our expectations. But it's a massive step in the right direction.

Obama is actually descended from black slaves via his mother's side who had one in the family many generations ago iirc

I’m a little put off by the woke thing and the Black thing as she’s actually Black Asian and I don’t know why one is considered more relevant. Either ignore her ethnicity or use the whole term. Hoping she will be a good influence in general though.
Well, whatever her cultural identity Kamal Harris has gone through life most likely being regarded by people as Black woman, so I dont really see the problem with calling her that?
Also, what's with all the slave stuff?? She is the daughter of highly educated and intelligent people and is herself highly educated and accomplished. She doesn't need to fit some victim profile to be acceptable! Americans NEED some educated and intelligent people in the White House-it's a good thing!

Tbf what matters isn't what people call her but what she calls herself. She seems to identify as racially black, though I'm not aware when that identification started but if that's what she chooses to call herself, no skin off my neck. I'll call her that. Though ethnically, she's mixed.

Also, what's with all the slave stuff?? She is the daughter of highly educated and intelligent people and is herself highly educated and accomplished. She doesn't need to fit some victim profile to be acceptable! Americans NEED some educated and intelligent people in the White House-it's a good thing!

Agreed.

@GroundAlmonds

Kamala's father would have been the descendant of slaves.

Not of American slaves though @BlueCatRedCat

Not that all progress isn’t very good news - it absolutely is - but it seems poignant that neither Barack or Kamala were of African-American descent.

It’s the American presidency, after all.

I thought Americans had businesses in the central and South America that kept slavery alive. I remember reading how some Americans were sent down there. Ship making is one of it.

Also, what's with all the slave stuff?? She is the daughter of highly educated and intelligent people and is herself highly educated and accomplished. She doesn't need to fit some victim profile to be acceptable! Americans NEED some educated and intelligent people in the White House-it's a good thing!

Huh? Are you suggesting that American PoC with slave heritage are a separate group from the Intelligent and educated people? There are a LOT of very capable and highly accomplished African-American women who could reach the WH.

Of course KH’ success is “a good thing“. I’m just pointing out another aspect.

If you don’t see the issue with only non-American BAME blood reaching the WH (so far) just imagine how awkward it will be if the third and fourth PoC to become POTUS and VPOTUS are also the offspring of recent immigrants (as opposed to springing from long-established AA communities).

I imagine a woman described as "very dangerous" has probably just refused to get back in the kitchen and make them a sandwich.

Huh? Are you suggesting that American PoC with slave heritage are a separate group from the Intelligent and educated people? There are a LOT of very capable and highly accomplished African-American women who could reach the WH.

Obviously not. I am saying that a successful Black woman does not immediately need to have her victim credentials checked. Yes she has had to work 3 times harder than a white man to get there, I don't doubt, but can't we celebrate the achievements of Black women without nitpicking? Just for one day?

I think Kamala Harris is a breath of fresh air. She acts like a leader, is strong, confident, sharp. AOC is another woman to watch.

Obviously not. I am saying that a successful Black woman does not immediately need to have her victim credentials checked. Yes she has had to work 3 times harder than a white man to get there, I don't doubt, but can't we celebrate the achievements of Black women without nitpicking? Just for one day?

I’ve already said three times that KH’s success is fantastic.

What I’m expressing concern about isn’t KH. It’s the structural oppression of African Americans.

I suppose "skinfolk is kinfolk" until you get to a certain position, then you're actually not the right type of "kinfolk". shrug

Ah, I see that some of our US ancestors did go to the Caribbean. It was only 89 years between 1776 and 1865 since they wrote the constitution and had civil war. So no wonder I thought they had some business down there, before 1779, some of them were still British. I just read letter about an possible ancestor of mine and he was sent down there to be employed

@Raceless

I suppose "skinfolk is kinfolk" until you get to a certain position, then you're actually not the right type of "kinfolk". shrug

I’m not sure if you’re trying to be ironic.

You have heard of Jim Crow, Civil Rights, The Great Migration etc? But you’re concerned that Kamala Harris is the one being discriminated against?

@lborgia

I'm not excited that she's a black woman

I'm excited that for the first time, enough voters went to the ballot unconcerned about gender or race (or equally, understanding that representing diversity is important).

Plenty of voters voted against Hillary Clinton purely because she was female.

Plenty of people just disliked Hillary Clinton.

From what I have read she is extremely hard working and dedicated what more could you want as a VP

It’s fantastic that not only have the US got their first female VP but that she is also a woman of colour it’s an incredible achievement and especially after this year hugely important

To run for President she will have to move to the centre there is no doubt about that and she will not to appeal to all Trump supporters to to appeal to many in the middle who fee the Democrat have not connected with them. Don’t forget Trump received more votes this election that in 2016 and many votes to keep Trump out

She’s very impressive, and is by all accounts a very nice person. Assuming she doesn’t screw up spectacularly in the next four years, she will have an excellent chance to become the Dems candidate for the presidency in 2024, because, at 81, Biden is not expected to seek re-election.