Anne Coulter Critiques Kamala Harris’s Racial Identity as Unauthentic

During a recent appearance on C-SPAN, conservative columnist Ann Coulter sparked controversy with remarks regarding Vice President Kamala Harris’ racial identity. Coulter claimed that Harris is not a “foundational Black” individual, referencing Donald Trump’s assertion that Harris “happened to turn Black” during her political career.

Kamala Harris, who identifies as multiracial, has consistently identified as Black throughout her life.

Trump’s comments at an event for Black journalists in Chicago left many feeling bewildered and outraged. He suggested that the Kamala Harris he knew was “Indian all the way” until she suddenly “became a Black person” while campaigning.

In her discussion on Washington Journal, Coulter argued that laws aimed at compensating for the legacies of slavery have been manipulated to favor newer immigrants while discriminating against white individuals. She emphasized these laws should primarily benefit the descendants of enslaved Americans.

Coulter stated, “The entire purpose of Affirmative Action, set-asides, and civil rights laws was to make up for the legacy of slavery and Jim Crow.”

She expressed concern that, without clearly defining who qualifies as foundational Black Americans, the original intent of these laws has been undermined. “Now, a Thai immigrant who arrives today has an advantage in college applications over a heterosexual white male,” she claimed.

According to Coulter, the framework of civil rights and affirmative action laws has been twisted to encourage anti-white sentiment. “I often remind Black people that Indians are now occupying many of the good diversity positions,” she remarked.

She further stated, “We didn’t enslave Indians; they owe us, not the other way around.” Coulter noted that a significant majority of legal immigrants come from what she refers to as the “Third World” and criticized the shift from integration and civil rights for Black Americans to what she described as a misguided concept of diversity.

Coulter downplayed the notion that Trump could win the Black vote through lenient approaches to crime, and her comments were met with widespread backlash on social media.

One user expressing outrage on X remarked, “Foundational Black? Is she serious? Marcus Garvey wasn’t considered a ‘foundational Black’ either.” The user pointed out that many Black Americans and Jamaicans share similar ancestry from Western Africa.

They elaborated on the history of separation among families, highlighting that some were shipped to Jamaica or the Caribbean, while others were taken to the American colonies. “Her argument is completely wrong, racist, and that pasty saltine is NOT the person who should pretend to speak with authority about what makes someone Black or not,” the user added.

Another commenter called attention to the absurdity of Coulter’s argument by questioning the significance of where enslaved Africans were dropped off in the colonies. “Does it matter where the British slave ships dropped off African slaves? Was Alexander Hamilton not a foundational White because he was born in St Kitts?” the user asserted.

These critical responses reflect the larger conversation and divisive opinions surrounding identity and immigration in America, underscoring the struggles among different demographic groups for recognition and fairness in the context of societal benefits.