Janet Jackson’s ‘apology’ for Kamala Harris remarks wasn’t authorized

Janet Jackson’s recent comments regarding Vice President Kamala Harris, where she suggested Harris is not Black, have ignited controversy. These remarks coincidentally reflected a misleading narrative previously put forth by Donald Trump, who questioned Harris’s racial identity during his speeches.

The 58-year-old singer made these striking statements in an interview with The Guardian when asked about the historic moment of having a female Black vice president. Jackson’s comments came shortly after the passing of her brother, Tito, which may have influenced her emotional state during the interview.

Within a day of the interview’s publication, a statement purportedly from Jackson’s management surfaced, claiming she had apologized for her remarks. This statement, shared with Buzzfeed by a person named Mo Elmasri, suggested that Jackson “deeply respects Vice President Kamala Harris and her accomplishments as a Black and Indian woman.”

The statement further insisted that Janet was sorry for any confusion caused and recognized the importance of accurate representation in discussions about race. It expressed a commitment to promote unity.

However, it has since been clarified that the apology was not sanctioned by Jackson. Reports have indicated that Jackson is actually managed by her brother Randy, and Elmasri’s unusual phrasing in the apology raised eyebrows.

Elmasri, in a statement to Variety, disclosed that he had been dismissed by the Jackson family after efforts to enhance her public image. He expressed that he did not deserve such treatment.

This misunderstanding about Jackson’s comments has prompted numerous inquiries from media outlets, including The Independent, seeking further clarification from Jackson’s official representatives.

During the controversial interview, Jackson made a specific claim about Harris’s heritage, saying, “She’s not Black. That’s what I heard. That she’s Indian. Her father’s white.” She elaborated that she had not followed the news for a few days and mentioned someone had informed her about Harris’s family background.

Vice President Kamala Harris was born in 1964 to Shyamala Gopalan, an Indian cancer researcher, and Donald Harris, a Black Jamaican economics professor. Gopalan passed away in 2009, and Donald Harris, now 86, has served as a professor emeritus of economics at Stanford University.

Jackson’s remarks have drawn parallels to comments made by Donald Trump during a speech at the National Association of Black Journalists’ convention in July. Trump remarked, “[Harris] was always of Indian heritage, and she was only promoting Indian heritage. 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.”

He further questioned Harris’s identity, asking rhetorically, “So I don’t know, is she Indian or is she Black?” His statements suggested skepticism about her racial identity, which have been criticized widely for perpetuating racial division.

Additionally, Trump added, “I respect either one, but she obviously doesn’t, because she was Indian all the way, and then all of a sudden she made a turn and she became a Black person. I think somebody should look into that too.”

In contrast, Harris has often spoken about her biracial identity and upbringing. She has embraced her Indian and Jamaican heritage and attended Howard University, a well-known historically Black university in Washington, DC. Additionally, she is an active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha, one of the earliest Black sororities in the United States.

Reflecting on her youth, Harris shared a memory from 2021 about attending her first concert featuring Bob Marley and the Wailers in 1978. She recalled being in awe of the performance and attributed her understanding and appreciation of her Jamaican roots to her father. “We love Jamaica. He taught us the history of where we’re from, the struggles, and the beauty of the Jamaican people, and the richness of the culture,” she expressed.

As this situation unfolds, it underscores the ongoing discussions surrounding race, identity, and representation in America, especially with public figures making statements that can easily sway public perception.

Source: various news outlets