Trump questioned Harris’ heritage and accused her of using Blackness for political gain last week, prompting criticism, even from those who aren’t enthusiastic about her.

After Donald Trump told journalists on Wednesday that his presidential opponent Kamala Harris “turned Black” for political gain, Trump’s comments have impacted the way many multirace voters are thinking about the two candidates.

“She was only promoting Indian heritage,” the former president said during an interview at the National Association of Black Journalists convention last week. “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.”

“Is she Indian or is she Black?” he asked.

She’s both.

Harris, whose mother was Indian and her father is Jamaican, would make history if she is elected president. She would be both the first female president and the first Asian American president.

Multiracial American voters say they have heard similar derogatory remarks about their identities their whole lives. Some identify with Harris’ politics more than others but, overall, they told NBC News that Trump’s comments will not go unnoticed.

  • captainlezbian@lemmy.world
    54·
    3 months ago

    Why is this hard for people to understand‽

    Like I’m white as the first 41 presidents, but it’s always just seemed fucking obvious that mixed race and mixed ethnicity people are just simultaneously both.

    • BreadstickNinja@lemmy.worldEnglish
      27·
      3 months ago

      Even for white people - haven’t you ever heard someone say something like, “I’m German and Irish on my mother’s side”?

      The idea of having two different heritages is completely common and obvious. It’s not that Trump or other Republicans are having trouble wrapping their heads around the concept. It’s a racist attack, plain and simple.

    • redisdead@lemmy.world
      23·
      3 months ago

      You have the ability to form thoughts, this puts you about above 90% of the average conservative fan base.

    • nednobbins@lemm.ee
      9·
      3 months ago

      Unfortunately, the experience of being mixed race is a bit more complicated than that.

      There are several groups that see me as a potential member but it’s usually qualified with an implied “half-member”. There’s really no group that looks at me and instinctively says, “One of us.”