- Elena Wilson is a summer intern on The Tennessean's opinion and engagement journalism team. She is a rising senior and journalism major at University of Missouri.
Over the last few weeks, and especially in the last few days since announcing her candidacy for president, there has been a total rebranding of Kamala Harris amongst Gen Z and Millennial voters from the funny, but generally disliked, in-the-background vice president, to a charismatic, progressive girl-boss.
When President Joe Biden announced Harris as his running mate in 2020 after the initial excitement of the decision to put a Black woman and Asian American into the vice presidency died down, people began to examine who she was. Harris is the former district attorney of San Francisco, the attorney general of California, and before assuming the vice-presidency, was a U.S. senator from California. Those from the state know her well, and in turn, so did we.
Kamala labeled herself as a “progressive prosecutor.” In many ways she was. She has openly opposed the death penalty, led California to become the first justice system to require body cameras, and created a re-entry program for first-time offenders in San Francisco called “Back on Track.”
However, she has faced rightful criticism for her anti-truancy efforts, which charged parents whose children missed significant amounts of school. Many say the legislation disproportionately targeted low-income families and families of color. Additionally, in 2015 she withheld support for a bill that would have required independent investigation for police shootings. Harris also has a history of wrongful convictions in her time as a prosecutor.
The decision to choose a former attorney general to compliment the ticket also came at a pivotal time, as the country was still reeling from the aftermath of George Floyd’s murder by Minneapolis Police in May 2020. Many Gen Z voters picked up on this note and brought Harris under fire for her career in prosecution, even nicknaming her “Copmala.” It was a title she was unable to shake. Until recently.
Unwavering support for Kamala Harris comes at a fault
Harris’ joyful personality, philosophical way with words and infamous silk press quickly led her to become a meme amongst Gen Z and Millennials. In the lead-up to Biden's dropping out of the presidential race and the desperation for a moment of laughter amid the current political chaos, her comedic influence over social media has only grown stronger.
Since announcing her candidacy, what used to be sardonic quips about the vice president have turned to fierce support, even to a fault. Those who attempt to bring up Harris’ past as a prosecutor or are even concerned about her odds of winning are quickly shot down and accused of trying to derail the campaign effort.
Amongst the overflow of endorsem*nts from her Democratic peers, one voice was missing – Rep. Rashida Tlaib of Michigan, the only Palestinian American in Congress. Given Biden’s unwavering support for Israel despite nationwide protests boycotts, and significant pushback against his now-ceded presidential campaign, Tlaib’s voice has become increasingly important in Congress, even despite her censure in the House.
On Tuesday, Tlaib finally broke her silence, and rather than endorse Harris, advocated for an open convention, and for the DNC to call for “an arms embargo to stop the Israeli government’s war crimes.” Her act was one of bravery and dedication to both the Palestinians in Gaza and the occupied West Bank and the community of Arab Americans that she represents at home (Michigan has the largest Arab American population by density), but she has been met with backlash. Some of the same people who have been advocating for Gaza have turned around and attacked Tlaib for derailing the campaign effort. This is absurd.
The hard line for many voters against Biden for the last eight months has been his complicity and in many cases active participation in the massive loss of life and destruction occurring in Gaza. Some absolve Kamala of this as she sidestepped Biden to call for a six-week ceasefire in March, and refused to preside over Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s controversial visit to Congress.
But let us not forget that she is in fact part of the Biden administration. The same administration that has sent several multi-billion-dollar aid packages to Israel, despite our own budget deficit and while Americans suffer from an affordable housing crisis among other issues. Although she called for the temporary ceasefire, Harris has not taken an aggressive stance on Israel’s actions in Gaza, or any potential embargoes or sanctions, as Tlaib has called for.
Who are we to tell the only Palestinian American in Congress, someone who is in a position of power to raise concerns about the last eight months to the right ears, what is best for her people? Why are we idolizing Kamala Harris?
Harris may be best bet to defeat Trump, but criticism is valid
I understand the desperation, and that Harris is likely Democrats' best shot at beating Trump. The prospect of a younger leader, more skilled than Trump in debate, and the potential for the first African American woman, and South Asian in the presidency is exciting. She also begins her campaign with historical support. In just three days she has secured all 1,976 of the delegates needed for the Democratic nomination.
A Zoom call with over 44,000 Black women in attendance, including members of Congress and Rev. Bernice King, daughter of Dr. Martin Luther King, raised $1.5 million for Harris’ campaign, and in just 24 hours, Harris accrued a total of $81 million dollars, the fastest in history. She has also gained the support of top Democratic leaders such as Nancy Pelosi, and several congressional caucuses. Harris’ candidacy has tipped the scales and made a nearly hopeless election seem more feasible for Democrats.
But, at the end of the day, she is a politician, and there is no such thing as a “good” politician. Some are better than others, but all have flaws, and when you are in a position of power such as Harris’, mistakes can be the difference between life and death for your constituents.
When we idolize Harris, or any politician for that matter, it leads to a very dangerous ideology where we turn a blind eye to their wrongdoings. When we don’t hold people in positions of power accountable, both they and the public become complacent. This is how we go from election cycle to election cycle without anything changing or even becoming worse.
I do not have internalized racism or misogyny. I am not trying to bring a Black woman down. I am not trying to pave the way for a Trump win. I am just saying let us not lose sight of the fact that Harris is not faultless. We can vote for her, and still actively question and criticize who we are putting in the highest office in the land. And those who have made up their minds on whether they will vote for her because they have lost dozens of their family members in Gaza, or because they experienced her policies as California’s attorney general firsthand should be allowed to do so without being attacked.
If anything, Harris should be open to criticism if she wants to work to differentiate herself from the Biden administration in the last four months until the election. If you want her to have a better chance at capturing voters, and in turn enacting real, lasting change during her presidency, stop attacking any commentary that is not immediately supportive.
Elena Wilsonis a summer intern on The Tennessean's opinion and engagement journalism team. She is a rising senior and journalism major at University of Missouri.
