When it comes to the realities of race in America, things get more twisted than a pretzel on sale at a county fair. Recently, the pop superstar Janet Jackson found herself in hot water after mentioning that Vice President Kamala Harris isn’t really “black.” This may sound like the opening act of an increasingly bizarre political circus, but make no mistake ā this is the main event. Because when it comes to leveraging identity politics, folks, thatās as American as apple pie (and hot dogs, if weāre being honest).
Now, before you grab your pitchforks, let’s unpack this. Jacksonāwho isnāt exactly your average backyard philosopherādared to suggest that Harrisās heritage might not fit neatly into the āblack or whiteā box that many are desperate to shove her into. Instead, Jackson labeled Harris āAfro-Indian,ā leading to all sorts of people throwing their popcorn in the air, acting as if this was somehow a plot twist everyone should have seen coming. Because in the world of politics, identity isnāt just about who someone is; itās about who they can convince you they are to get your vote.
But hereās the kicker: Janet’s comments have stirred up a ruckus not merely because they seemed, shall we say, “unfiltered,” but also because they invoke that devil of a concept known as āidentity politics.ā Itās like a high-stakes game show where the prize is your vote, and the gimmick is: All you need is a drop of something special to secure that golden ticket. Never mind that Harris identifies as black; some folks are out here claiming that all you need is a familial connection back to the motherlandāor a head of wild hairāto score entry into that exclusive club. And if you mix that with just a pinch of Indian history, well, congratulations! You’ve got what some might call a political smoothie.
Of course, all of this talk led to Jacksonās publicist dropping the ball with an apology that seemed to glide onto the scene as awkwardly as a kid learning to skateboard. That publicist was promptly firedābecause who needs a shield when youāve got a superstar who can hold her own in the arena of public opinion? But what does this drama teach us? Itās about as clear as mud!
The truth is, political allegiances often walk hand in hand with identity. The Democrats have been hustling hard in their game of inclusion, but when it comes to defining who gets to claim āblacknessā in America, it appears the rule book is changing faster than a political debate response. If Harrisās identity offers her leverage in the electoral battlefield, then her background is up for interpretation and debate, just like a contestantās biography on a reality show. Meanwhile, commentators struggle to piece together the puzzle that is Harrisās identity, almost as if theyāre trying to assemble IKEA furniture with a blindfold on.
In the end, itās clear that āwhoās black?ā may just be a clever ruse in the ongoing struggle for powerāand just like every good soap opera, thereās plenty of drama for everyone to weigh in on. While folks like Jackson might throw shade on the notion of Harrisās blackness, others furiously defend her place in the narrative. Because at the end of the day, everyoneās got something to gain or lose in this wild political contest thatās more unpredictable than a cat at a dog show. Buckle up; we’re in for a wild ride!