Janet Jackson Dragged for Remarks on Kamala Harris’ Race
Singer and actress Icon Janet Jackson came off to a Rocky start with comments about Vice President Kamala Harris racial make up. She was branded a disinformation campaigner after speaking to The Guardian.
The Comments That Sparked Outrage
Jackson was though asked during the interview about Kamala Harris possibly being the first Black female to be president. To which Jackson replied, ‘You know what they allegedly said? She’s not Black. That’s what I heard. That she’s Indian. Her father’s white. That’s what I was told.” She confessed to being out of the news loop and that her comments were based on something she had heard.
Jackson was then quickly corrected by the Today in Focus podcast host, Nosheen Iqbal, who said: “That’s not true – Harris is mixed race.” Harris, who is Black and South Asian herself (her mother is Indian) But Jackson declined to make any additional observations, saying she was not sure if America was prepared for a Black lady president. You can also listen to her prediction that no matter who wins the election, there will be “chaos.”
Social Media and Celebrity Backlash
Following Jackson’s interview several responded on social media voicing disappointment in her comments. Leah, a Twitter user until he migrated to MeWe and became known as “One X,” said it was “irresponsible” for Jackson to spread unsubstantiated claims of Harris’ racial identity.
Wrote journalist Yashar Ali, “Having someone as influential as Jackson spreading a piece of misinformation that is swirling around the internet is sad. Television host Brandon Pope added, “This is what America’s misinformation crisis looks like.
Trump’s Remarks on Harris falling short of peoples’ identity
The comments from Janet Jackson follow those of former President Donald Trump. Earlier this summer, at the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) convention, Trump raised doubts about Harris’ ethnicity: “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.” It led to fierce criticism of his words. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre called Trump’s remarks “abhorrent” and “disrespectful.”
Pride In Harris’ Heritage
The biracial daughter of Jamaica-born Donald J. Harris and India-born Shyamala Gopalan, Kamala Harris has always recognized her mixed-race heritage. Her mom brought her and her older sister Maya up as Black girls, conscious of the way in which the world would regard them. The first woman of Asian and Black Heritage to run as a Vice President Candidate, Harris has often said that she proud of his Indian-American origin just as she proud of being black women which makes her stand out at the place where these two diverse cultures meet.
The Political Activism Of Janet Jackson
While Jackson has released no formal endorsement for any specific political figure, she has made it clear that she believes in civic engagement. She continued to encourage voter participation in 2020 by promoting the When We All Vote campaign. But in the most recent interview, Jackson was unsure about how the 2020 presidential election would pan out, saying that either way she believes there could be “mayhem” from whoever wins.
Cautions for a Time of Misinformation
The reaction to Jackson is a reminder of the need for good and proper information, particularly in this era where fake news abounds with devastating consequences. In the days leading up to an election, public figures should be speaking carefully and not passing along potentially dangerous messages without first doing a fact-check.