Janet Jackson Issues Apology Over Kamala Harris Comments
In a recent controversy, singer Janet Jackson offered an apology through her representative after making false claims about Vice President Kamala Harris, asserting that Harris is “not Black.”
On the Claim
Jackson made the controversial statement in an interview with The Guardian. “She’s not Black,” Jackson asserted, referencing information that suggested Harris’s father was white and that she might have Indian ancestry. “I was told that they discovered her father was white,” she explained.
Facts About Kamala Harris
Kamala Harris, however, is proudly Black, with her father Donald Harris, a Jamaican-American economist, being a pivotal figure in her heritage. He achieved notoriety as the first Black scholar to obtain a tenured position in Stanford’s prestigious economics department.
Harris has a long history of embracing her Black identity. She completed her higher education at Howard University, a prominent historical Black institution. The vice president has also openly discussed her Jamaican roots, once humorously stating, “Half my family’s from Jamaica, are you kidding me?” in relation to her past with marijuana.
The Apology
In response to the backlash, a representative for Jackson clarified that her comments were “based on misinformation.” The statement reaffirmed Jackson’s respect for Harris and her identity as a Black and Indian woman, stating, “Janet apologizes for any confusion caused and acknowledges the importance of accurate representation in public discourse.”
While the apology addressed the misinformation, details on where Jackson acquired her inaccurate claims remain unexplained.
Context of the Controversy
The issue of Harris’s racial identity has been a topic of concern, especially with former President Donald Trump muddying the conversation surrounding her race. He has made false assertions about Harris misrepresenting her background. In a recent address, Trump remarked, “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.”
With Jackson now understanding that the truth surrounding Harris is that she is, indeed, “both,” the conversation surrounding identity and representation remains crucial in the public arena.
