From Brown’s Town to the White House: Kamala Harris’ Jamaican Roots and Global Impact

[Social Media]

 

In the small town of Brown’s Town, nestled in the northern coast of Jamaica, a community gathers to witness a momentous occasion that resonates far beyond its borders. It was three and a half years ago when Sherman Harris, standing on the hilltop of his home, welcomed family and friends to witness history as his cousin, Kamala Harris, was sworn in as Vice President of the United States. The room filled with joyous screams and tears as they watched this historic moment unfold. Recalling that day, Sherman Harris, now 59, told CNN, "Even talking to you now, I feel some sort of tears from my eyes too, you know. It's like tears of joy."

 

 

Next week, they will gather once more before his widescreen television, watching as Kamala Harris ascends yet again, this time as she accepts the Democratic presidential nomination. This event is not only significant because she will be the first Black woman, the first Jamaican American, and the first Asian American to lead a major party's White House campaign, but also because it reflects the journey of her Caribbean roots, which millions of Americans are only beginning to understand.

 

 

Her rise to prominence has not been without challenges. Just as quickly as she was propelled to the top of the Democratic ticket a month ago when President Joe Biden stepped down from his re-election bid, her Republican adversary, Donald Trump, sought to undermine her identity. In a blatant attempt to sway African American voters in key states like Michigan and Georgia, Trump falsely suggested that Harris had only recently chosen to identify as Black, labeling her as an opportunist. "I don’t know, is she Indian or is she Black?" Trump questioned, a comment that was widely criticized.

 

 

The reality is that Kamala Harris is both. She is the daughter of Shyamala Gopalan, an Indian-born breast cancer researcher who passed away in 2009, and Donald Harris, a Jamaican-born retired economist from Stanford University. Although her father has largely stayed out of the public eye, his legacy and that of their family in Brown’s Town is deeply intertwined with Kamala’s story. This market town in St. Ann Parish, where vendors sell glossy green avocados and yams, is where Donald Harris' family has roots stretching back generations. As Michael Belnavis, the mayor of St. Ann Parish, reflected, “You have to recognize individuals who come from humble abodes and really excel. Coming from Brown’s Town is as humble as it gets.”

 

 

The town itself bears a complex history. Named after Hamilton Brown, an Irish slave owner who is believed, according to family lore, to be an ancestor of Kamala Harris’ great-grandmother, Christiana Brown, the legacy of Brown’s Town is marked by both the atrocities of slavery and the resilience of its people. "Miss Chrishy," as Christiana Brown was affectionately known, played a significant role in shaping the family’s future. She was a stern but loving matriarch who operated a dry goods store in Brown’s Town and raised her grandson, Donald Harris. In an essay published in 2018 in Jamaica Global Online, Donald Harris described her as "reserved and stern in look, firm with ‘the strap’ but capable of the most endearing and genuine acts of love, affection, and care." It was from Miss Chrishy that Donald Harris drew inspiration for his interests in economics and politics.

 

 

Although Miss Chrishy passed away in 1951, her influence endures. Her elegant demeanor, proper manners, and the high standards she set for her children and grandchildren continue to be a source of pride for the Harris family. "She was the backbone," said Latoya Harris-Ghartey, Sherman Harris’ daughter, who is now the executive director of Jamaica’s National Education Trust. "She believed in getting your books and having a solid education, those sorts of things. I think that has passed on throughout the line. Everybody always pushes you to be better, to excel."

 

Miss Chrishy’s legacy was also marked by her marriage to Joseph Harris, who raised cattle and grew pimento berries on a farm high above Brown’s Town. Though he died in 1939, a year after Donald Harris was born, his and Miss Chrishy’s influence on the family’s position in the town remains prominent. The family has long been respected as landowners and businesspeople, a status that persists to this day.

 

Sherman Harris, Donald’s first cousin, continues to live on and manage the Harris land in an area known as Orange Hill, named for a citrus grove that once flourished there. One of the notable features of the property is the Harris Quarry, started by Sherman’s late father, Newton, which still produces crushed limestone and bricks. During a tour with CNN, Sherman proudly pointed out his three-story commercial building in the heart of Brown’s Town. It is through this landscape that Donald Harris brought Kamala and her sister, Maya, during their childhood holidays, guiding them through the town’s bustling market and other significant landmarks.

 

In a 2018 essay, Donald Harris reminisced about a visit in 1970 when Kamala, ever adventurous, broke away from the group during a trek through the family property. "She took off like a gazelle in Serengeti, leaping over rocks and shrubs and fallen branches, in utter joy and unleashed curiosity, to explore that same enticing terrain," he wrote. "I couldn’t help thinking there and then: What a moment of exciting rediscovery being handed over from one generation to another!"

 

These childhood memories are cherished by Sherman Harris, who recalls the cousins playing together during those visits in the 1970s while the adults socialized. He remembers Kamala and Maya as "brilliant girls" who would quiz him on Jamaica’s current affairs, often leaving him stumped and needing to ask his father for answers. For Sherman, Kamala’s rise is emblematic of the phrase "Jamaica to the world," a testament to the island’s culture, music, and influence on the global stage. It is also a reflection of the Harris family’s determination. "We have never ventured in much failure, you know," Sherman remarked. "We are always successful in whatever we do."

 

Yet, as Kamala Harris ascends to new heights, her father, Donald Harris, has largely remained out of the spotlight. Despite their separation when Kamala was just five years old, Shyamala Gopalan’s influence on Kamala’s life is undeniable. In her memoir, "The Truths We Hold: An American Journey," Kamala Harris wrote of her parents, noting that while her father "remained a part of our lives," it was her mother who raised her daughters to be "confident, proud black women" in a society that primarily saw them as African American. Kamala’s journey took her to Howard University, a prestigious Historically Black College and University (HBCU) in Washington, DC, where she joined Alpha Kappa Alpha, the nation’s oldest Black sorority.

 

Kamala Harris’ relationship with her father, however, has been more complex. After their divorce, Donald Harris felt his relationship with his daughters was restricted, a sentiment he expressed in a 2018 essay, where he criticized the stereotype of "a neegroe from da eyelans" as being incapable of proper parenting. Despite these challenges, he persisted in his love for his children and remained committed to his responsibilities as their father. Donald Harris, now 85, has largely avoided the limelight, even as his daughter stands on the cusp of making history once again.

 

Donald Harris briefly emerged from his public silence during Kamala’s 2020 presidential bid, rebuking her for joking about marijuana use in connection to her Jamaican heritage. In a statement posted on Jamaica Global Online, which has since been deleted, he expressed his disappointment, noting that their ancestors would be "turning in their grave" to see their family name linked to a "fraudulent stereotype of a pot-smoking joy seeker."

 

Among economists, Donald Harris is respected as a free thinker, unafraid to challenge conventional theories. Damien King, a retired professor and think tank leader in Jamaica, who first met Harris in the mid-1980s, was not surprised by the public criticism, noting that Harris has always been unafraid to speak his mind. Steven Fazzari, an economist at Washington University in St. Louis and a former student of Harris, described him as someone who thinks "deeply about economic theory" and encourages originality. Fazzari fondly recalled a recent dinner with Harris and other former students, where Harris, in his mid-80s, was as articulate and gracious as ever.

 

As Kamala Harris continues her campaign, her identity and ancestry have become focal points in the political discourse. Trump, grappling with how to counter her sudden candidacy, has resorted to questioning her racial identity, falsely claiming that she chose to "turn Black" for political gain. This misrepresentation of her background, as Danielle Casarez Lemi of Southern Methodist University noted, taps into damaging stereotypes and aims to undermine her credibility. Despite these attacks, Harris’ supporters remain steadfast.

 

Dahlia Walker-Huntington, a Jamaican American lawyer and long-time Harris supporter, dismissed Trump’s comments as "condescending" and "ignorant," pointing out that a person can hold multiple identities in a multicultural society. She views Kamala Harris as a strong woman who stands up for her convictions, and her Jamaican heritage is simply "icing on the cake." For Walker-Huntington and many others, Kamala Harris’ candidacy feels deeply personal. "It makes me feel like that’s my cousin running for the presidency of the United States," she said.

 

Even those who have not seen Kamala in years, like her cousin Sherman Harris, continue to take pride in her accomplishments. Donald Harris, though more private, still maintains ties with the family and was honored in 2021 with Jamaica’s Order

 

 of Merit for his contributions to the nation. As Kamala Harris prepares for the next phase of her journey, the small town of Brown’s Town remains a proud witness to her achievements, a reminder of the rich heritage that has shaped her path.

Sherman Harris, gazing out over the same hills where his cousin once played as a child, knows that no matter what the future holds, the legacy of Brown’s Town and the Harris family will continue to resonate far beyond the island’s shores. As he and his family prepare to watch Kamala take the stage next week, they do so with the knowledge that they are part of a story that stretches across oceans and generations, a story that is far from over.

 

Credit: CNN  2024-08-19

 

 

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[JonnyF]

Oh she's Jamaican this week?

 

https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2019-10-25/how-kamala-harris-indian-family-shaped-her-political-career

 

 

She switches race faster than Meghan Markle. She'll be blacking up 'Trudeau style' and getting a perm next.

[Chomper Higgot]

2 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

Oh she's Jamaican this week?

 

https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2019-10-25/how-kamala-harris-indian-family-shaped-her-political-career

 

 

She switches race faster than Meghan Markle. She'll be blacking up 'Trudeau style' and getting a perm next.

Oh your back to your issues with race again.

 

There’s a surprise.

[JonnyF]

1 minute ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Oh your back to your issues with race again.

 

There’s a surprise.

 

Maybe check the thread title.

 

If you prefer we discussed astro physics maybe you could start a thread?

[mdr224]

Elizabeth warren also lies about her race. Not good company to be in

[Chomper Higgot]

4 minutes ago, mdr224 said:

Elizabeth warren also lies about her race. Not good company to be in

Harris has not lied about her race.

 

 

[BKKBike09]

I wonder how long before some infantile wokery, fuelled by anger at the 'white patriarchal hegemony', demands that the 'White House' be renamed to make it more 'inclusive'. 

[Chomper Higgot]

6 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

 

Maybe check the thread title.

 

If you prefer we discussed astro physics maybe you could start a thread?

Does Meghan Markle get a mention in the OP?

 

I must have missed that.

 

[Chomper Higgot]

Just now, BKKBike09 said:

I wonder how long before some infantile wokery, fuelled by anger at the 'white patriarchal hegemony', demands that the 'White House' be renamed to make it more 'inclusive'. 

Dreaming up stuff to feed your need for grievance?

[JonnyF]

Just now, Chomper Higgot said:

Does Meghan Markle get a mention in the OP?

 

I must have missed that.

 

 

Just providing an example of another social chameleon who changes their race like others change their hairstyle. 

 

I can see why you wouldn't like the comparison though... 

[luckymitchell]

10 minutes ago, mdr224 said:

Elizabeth warren also lies about her race. Not good company to be in

Oh yeah, Pocahontas, forgot about her

[Chomper Higgot]

11 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

 

Just providing an example of another social chameleon who changes their race like others change their hairstyle. 

 

I can see why you wouldn't like the comparison though... 

Actually you were giving an example of another woman you have the hate on.

 

Harris has never changed her race, something that had been explained to you on multiple occasions.

[JonnyF]

3 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Actually you were giving an example of another woman you have the hate on.

 

I don't hate either. Just pointing out the lies.

 

3 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

 

Harris has never changed her race, something that had been explained to you on multiple occasions.

 

Of course. Nobody can change their race. They can only lie about it or in the case of mixed race people like Harris, focus on one part of their heritage in a cynical attempt to gain votes. 

 

It was amusing to see her "surprised" by reporters recently as she left a record store with a bag full of albums purchased to enhance her black credentials. So cringe, so staged, I can't believe people fall for this garbage. I thought Democrat voters were surprised to be the intellectual ones? 😃

[Chomper Higgot]

17 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

 

I don't hate either. Just pointing out the lies.

 

 

Of course. Nobody can change their race. They can only lie about it or in the case of mixed race people like Harris, focus on one part of their heritage in a cynical attempt to gain votes. 

 

It was amusing to see her "surprised" by reporters recently as she left a record store with a bag full of albums purchased to enhance her black credentials. So cringe, so staged, I can't believe people fall for this garbage. I thought Democrat voters were surprised to be the intellectual ones? 😃

Harris has never lied about her race.

 

 

[JonnyF]

1 minute ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Harris has never lied about her race.

 

 

 

Your inability to read is wasting my time again. 

 

That's why I said "or in the case of mixed race people like Harris, focus on one part of their heritage in a cynical attempt to gain votes. "

[Chomper Higgot]

5 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

 

Your inability to read is wasting my time again. 

 

That's why I said "or in the case of mixed race people like Harris, focus on one part of their heritage in a cynical attempt to gain votes. "

Why does Harris’ race take so much of your head space.

 

She’s an American, that’s all that matters.

 

 

[DaddyWarbucks]

Kamala Harris' father Don Harris is a Marxist who played a role in the formation of the Workers Party led by Trevor Munroe in Jamaica.

That wasn't mentioned in the CNN article.

Just an oversight, I'm sure.

[JonnyF]

31 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Why does Harris’ race take so much of your head space.

 

She’s an American, that’s all that matters.

 

 

 

I don't care what race she is. I wanted Kemi as UK PM. She's black in case you don't know.

 

I just dislike people focusing on a specific part of their heritage in a cynical attempt to gain votes. Especially when the part they focus on changes as needs require.

 

Fortunately, the vast majority of black Americans will see her for what she is. A fraud. White pearl clutching liberals will probably fall for it, they're not the smartest bunch. 

[Emdog]

The less than intelligent crowd here that carps indirectly about "racial purity" needs to wake up and smell the coffee. Humans are mixes of all sorts of traits... thinking of that white racist that went on Brit show if he gave up some for DNA test. He had black relatives in his past. It can be argued there is no such thing as race: it was created in order to enslave and exploit those in a lesser power position. There are "traits" and they overlap.

I want to see a follow up article on Trump and his German background, and their connection with fascist rallies there and in New York. Fair is fair. Trumps roots are in racism and plenty to share about that

[JonnyF]

2 minutes ago, Emdog said:

The less than intelligent crowd here that carps indirectly about "racial purity" needs to wake up and smell the coffee. Humans are mixes of all sorts of traits... thinking of that white racist that went on Brit show if he gave up some for DNA test. He had black relatives in his past. It can be argued there is no such thing as race: it was created in order to enslave and exploit those in a lesser power position. There are "traits" and they overlap.

I want to see a follow up article on Trump and his German background, and their connection with fascist rallies there and in New York. Fair is fair. Trumps roots are in racism and plenty to share about that

 

So there is no such thing as race, yet Trump is racist. 

 

Fascinating. 

[DaddyWarbucks]

5 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

 

So there is no such thing as race, yet Trump is racist. 

 

Fascinating. 

Brilliant riposte

[Purdey]

Why must people be segregated by race all the time? 

Indian French, African Germans, Latino Spaniards. 

We don't read about these. But Black Americans are constantly referred to. 

[Chomper Higgot]

1 hour ago, JonnyF said:

 

I don't care what race she is. I wanted Kemi as UK PM. She's black in case you don't know.

 

I just dislike people focusing on a specific part of their heritage in a cynical attempt to gain votes. Especially when the part they focus on changes as needs require.

 

Fortunately, the vast majority of black Americans will see her for what she is. A fraud. White pearl clutching liberals will probably fall for it, they're not the smartest bunch. 

We’ll stop focusing on Harris’ heritage, it’s hers, she can do whatever she chooses to do with it.

 

 

[JonnyF]

3 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

We’ll stop focusing on Harris’ heritage,

 

Oh will "we" now?  😃 I'll do exactly what I want thanks... 

 

Funny how you want to stop focusing on Harris' heritage yet here you are, posting in this thread which is all about Harris' heritage. 😃

 

3 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

 

it’s hers, she can do whatever she chooses to do with it.

 

 

Yes, she is free to exploit it just as I am free to comment on her exploiting it. I don't believe the left have starting throwing people in jail for that just yet, although I'm sure they'd like to. 

[BKKBike09]

2 hours ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Dreaming up stuff to feed your need for grievance?

 

Yawn. A 'need for grievance'?

 

Although I do detect a need for grievance here ...

 

What are you doing for others today? Start by unlearning racist language. It may seem innocent to you, but these words and phrases have deeper implications. Terms like “Black sheep” and “Blacklist” are examples of how deeply engrained racism is in our language. 

“Everyday language reminds African Americans in matter-of-fact ways that our color is related to extortion (blackmail), disrepute (black mark), rejection (blackball), banishment (blacklist), impurity (not the driven snow), illicitness (black market), and death. Casting aspersions on black or darkness while praising white or light isn’t universal, and regardless of the intentions of the user of these expressions, such usage colludes with racism.” — Therapist Dee Watts-Jones, 2004

https://r2ac.republicrecords.com/everyday-expressions-are-actually-racist/

 

So watch out, White House!

[Jingthing]

I predict a big assed party time in Brown's Town come November!

 

Her Dad is very old now and they haven't been close but it sure would be sweet if he shows up for his daughter's inauguration.

Edited August 19 by Jingthing

[Chomper Higgot]

2 hours ago, JonnyF said:

 

Oh will "we" now?  😃 I'll do exactly what I want thanks... 

 

Funny how you want to stop focusing on Harris' heritage yet here you are, posting in this thread which is all about Harris' heritage. 😃

 

 

Yes, she is free to exploit it just as I am free to comment on her exploiting it. I don't believe the left have starting throwing people in jail for that just yet, although I'm sure they'd like to. 

Jonny, you misunderstand me, though so accept my typo didn’t help.

 

I have absolutely no problem at all with you posting stuff that reveals your race fixation.

 

Just don’t expect it to go without comment.

[Emdog]

On 8/19/2024 at 10:04 AM, JonnyF said:

 

So there is no such thing as race, yet Trump is racist. 

 

Fascinating. 

biologically there may be no race, but in the minds of people there are artificial categories which they believe and act upon... yes DJT is racist & from long line of racists: DOJ suit against his dad over non rental to black people in NYC properties. That BS birther slander against Obama. The full page ad to bring back death penalty for Central Park 5 (later exonerated after decades in jail), "Good people on both sides" re "Jews will not replace us" Tiki march, too similar to KKK and Nazi marches & woman runover and killed by one of those fine people, His referring to inner city people as animals.... his racist insult of Harris by pretending not to be able to pronounce her name... This could go on for pages. 

There is no such thing as God (no proof), yet people believe in God and act on those beliefs

[MisterTee]

On 8/19/2024 at 9:46 AM, DaddyWarbucks said:

Kamala Harris' father Don Harris is a Marxist who played a role in the formation of the Workers Party led by Trevor Munroe in Jamaica.

That wasn't mentioned in the CNN article.

Just an oversight, I'm sure.

The ackee fruit never falls far from the tree in Jamaica.

The prospect of having a family member in the White House must have them all singing the Internationale with wild exuberance. 

[placeholder]

On 8/19/2024 at 8:21 AM, JonnyF said:

Oh she's Jamaican this week?

 

https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2019-10-25/how-kamala-harris-indian-family-shaped-her-political-career

 

 

She switches race faster than Meghan Markle. She'll be blacking up 'Trudeau style' and getting a perm next.

Contrary to what you seem to believe, Harris has never denied her Indian roots. She wrote about them at length in her book. And the fact is she attended an historically black University, joined a black sorority , and in her public life has always identified primarily with the black community. What does a family photo have to do with that? You seem to have a problem with people of racially mixed backgrounds.