Kamala Harris Faces a Tough Road Ahead (Against Identity Politics)
When President Joe Biden announced on Sunday, July 21, 2024that he would not seek reelection, he equally expressed confidence that Vice President Kamala Harris is the best candidate to lead the Democratic Party. Despite Biden’s endorsement, this does not mean Harris will automatically be selected as the Party’s presidential nominee. This will be decided by delegates of the DNC on August 1, 2024. Watching this historic moment unfold, it is crucial to acknowledge the unique challenges Harris faces as a candidate with three intersecting identities: she is Black, a woman, and the child of immigrants.
On the face of things, Kamala Harris represents a vision of America that embraces diversity and inclusion, much like our own Jamaican motto, “Out of Many, One People.” Her background as the daughter of Jamaican and Indian immigrants offers her a unique perspective, making her well-suited to address the many issues facing the United States today. Her career, from serving as a U.S. Senator to her role as Vice President, shows she is more than capable to lead the ticket of the Democratic Party.
However, if selected as the nominee, Harris’s path to the presidency will be filled with obstacles, especially because she will be running against Republican nominee Donald Trump. His campaign strategy often involves attacking his opponents based on their identity. The recent assassination attempt on Trump’s life has only made his supporters more determined, a fraction of the electorate which appears to be growing everyday.
Being Black, a woman, and the child of immigrants, Harris is likely to face intensified scrutiny and prejudice — a reality we witnessed during Barack and Hillary’s campaigns. Come to think of it, have we heard from Hillary since her defeat by Trump until recently, when she endorsed Kamala? For Biden, it was his age; Trump has notoriously nicknamed him “Sleepy Joe” due to his energy levels. It is clear that identity-based attacks are powerful tools in Trump’s playbook, foreshadowing a tough road ahead for Harris. The latest “identity attack” is calling Harris a “DEI hire” — a term Forbes magazine defines as “a disparaging term that refers to quotas or targets for hiring racial and ethnic minorities, women, and/or people with disabilities for positions of authority and/or power.”
Those concerned about identity politics, like myself, understand that Harris’s intersecting identities mean she will navigate a challenging political landscape. Democratic delegates will undoubtedly consider this when selecting their nominee. Perhaps her swift and substantial fundraising of USD $50 million within 24 hours, far surpassing Biden’s initial efforts, could boost confidence in her ability to win the White House.
