US Vice President Kamala Harris delivered one of the biggest speeches of her life at the Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Chicago on Thursday night, where she officially accepted her party’s nomination for the November election.
Members of Kamala’s family were by her side at the DNC stage, including her husband, Doug Emhoff and her sister Maya Harris. However, her father, Donald Harris, the only living parent, was notably absent from the audience.
Who Is Donald Harris?
Donald Harris, an 86-year-old economist, has been largely estranged from his daughter. While she spoke warmly of her mother, Shyamala Gopalan Harris, who passed away in 2009, her references to Donald were minimal.
‘Run, Kamala, run’
In her remarks, she recalled her father’s encouragement during her childhood, saying, “Run, Kamala, run. Don’t be afraid. Don’t let anything stop you.” However, she also acknowledged that her mother primarily raised her and her sister after their parents’ divorce when Kamala was just eight years old.
The estrangement between Kamala and Donald Harris is well-documented, the New York Post reported. Despite being her only living parent, he has not been involved in her political life, choosing to remain silent on her career since 2019.
That year, he publicly criticised a comment she made about her Jamaican heritage about marijuana use, expressing deep disappointment at the stereotype it perpetuated. According to the New York-based newspaper, Donald said that his family’s name and proud Jamaican identity should not be associated with such notions.
Academics
Donald Harris, who has a distinguished academic background, was born in Jamaica and earned his Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley. He has been described as a “combative Marxist economist” and has contributed to discussions on wealth distribution and economic theory.
His academic career included teaching positions at Stanford University and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Despite their differences, some observers note that Kamala and Donald share similar economic views, particularly regarding issues of wealth distribution and social justice.
While Donald Harris did not attend the convention, he recently received recognition in Jamaica for his contributions to the country’s economic development. He was awarded the Order of Merit, one of Jamaica’s highest honors, in October 2021, but attended the ceremony without Kamala by his side.
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