“I don’t know, is she Indian or is she Black?” Referring to Vice President Kamala Harris, former President Donald Trump made this statement at the National Association of Black Journalists. Statements like this one, and others, have made race and racism dominant themes over the last several election cycles, and 2024 has continued that trend, with some important nuances associated with the Democratic presidential nomination of Vice President Harris. At a webinar taking place on Friday, October 11, 2024 from 1:00-2:00pm EDT, we draw attention to why race and immigration rhetoric matters, how they may influence voters, and the broader socio-historical implications for politics in America.

Race is traditionally a factor in presidential elections in the United States. Trump knows this and uses race as a means of dividing the country. Accordingly, he injected race into the campaign almost immediately following Harris’ emergence as the Democratic nominee, calling into question her racial identity. Trump said, “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.” He added that “she was Indian all the way, and then all of a sudden she made a turn and she went, she became a Black person.” While Trump stated that he does not care how Harris racially identifies, he knows that many Americans do. One strategy in casting doubt about Vice President Harris’ Blackness is aiming to chip away at the Democratic voting bloc of Black voters, whether this be by voting for him or not voting at all. 

The Impact of Race and Immigration Rhetoric on the 2024 Election

For most Black Americans, this race-baiting will not work. However, there may be some who view Harris having a Jamaican father and Indian mother as being different from native-born Blacks. Research suggests that Blackness in America has always been diverse and fluid. Harris attending a historically Black college and university (HBCU) and being a member of the first collegiate Black sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., are key cultural attachments that others use as evidence of her Blackness. Nonetheless, there has been a substantial increase in people identifying as multiracial in the U.S. However, the one-drop rule is still alive and well. People with African ancestry are historically perceived as Black and often identify as such.

Read the full article about race and immigration rhetoric by Rashawn Ray and Gabriel R. Sanchez at Brookings.