Who is Donald Harris? The face of Kamala Harris’s family missing from the Democratic convention

Washington: US Vice President Kamala Harris delivered the biggest speech 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. Kamala’s family members accompanied her on the DNC stage, including her husband Doug Emhoff and her sister Maya Harris. However, her father, Donald Harris, who is her only surviving parent, was absent from the audience.

Economist Donald Harris, 86, has been largely estranged from his daughter. Though she spoke warmly about her mother, Shyamala Gopalan Harris, who died in 2009, she made few references to Donald.

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Mother raised Kamala and her sister
In her remarks, she recalled her father’s encouragement to her during her childhood, saying, “Run, Kamala, run! Don’t be afraid. Don’t let anything stand in your way.” However, he also acknowledged that Kamala was raised by her mother alone after her parents divorced when she was just eight years old.

The rift between Kamala and Donald Harris is well-documented, reports the New York Post. Despite being her only surviving parent, he has not been involved in her political life, preferring to remain silent on her career since 2019. That year, he publicly criticised a comment she made about her Jamaican heritage regarding marijuana use, and expressed deep disappointment at the stereotypes it evoked. Donald said his family name and proud Jamaican identity should not be associated with such perceptions.

What is Donald Harris?
Donald Harris, who has a strong academic background, was born in Jamaica and earned a PhD from the University of California, Berkeley. He has been described as a “combatant 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 believe Kamala and Donald have similar economic views, especially with regard to issues of wealth distribution and social justice.

Tags: America News, US Presidential Election 2024