ABC News’ George Stephanopoulos got into a fiery debate with Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL) over the racial controversy regarding Vice President Kamala Harris, who recently became the Democrats’ presidential nominee.
The exchange took place during an interview with the congressman on Sunday’s episode of “This Week” in which they discussed the issue.
The conversation centered on comments made by former President Donald Trump during his interview with members of the National Association of Black Journalists.
“Do you believe that Vice President Kamala Harris is only on the ticket because she is a black woman?” one of the interviewers asked.
The former president responded:
Well, I can say, no, I think it’s maybe a little bit different. So, I've known her a long time indirectly, not directly very much, and she 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. So, I don't know, is she Indian or is she black? But you know what, I respect either one.
In his interview with Donalds, Stephanopoulos asked, “Why is former President Trump questioning the vice president’s racial identity?”
The lawmaker responded, pointing out that the initial conversation about Harris’ racial identity was started by the media itself, noting that the Associated Press “is the one that wrote the headline when she first came into the United States Senate” and that the outlet “didn’t talk about her being black,” but “talked about her being the first Indian American senator.”
Donalds then pivoted, attempting to shift the conversation to matters that the American people actually care about.
What matters to the American people is, are we going to have the same policies of the Biden-Harris administration that has been destructive of the American people? Or are we going to have the policies of the Trump administration which put America first, had low inflation, prosperous Americans no matter your race, no matter your color, no matter your creed, and a foreign policy that kept America safe?
Nevertheless, Stephanopoulos didn’t want to discuss any of these issues and pressed on about Harris’ race and heritage. “And you just repeated the slur again. If it doesn’t matter, why do you all keep questioning her identity?” he asked.
Donalds responded, stating, “There were a lot of people who were trying to figure this out. But again, that’s a side issue, not the main issue.”
Stephanopoulos became heated, continuing to press Donalds on Trump’s remarks. When the host was done with his virtue signaling, Donalds responded, attempting to educate him on the discussions about Harris’ heritage among members of the black community.
“The fact is, many black Americans, particularly descendants of slaves, do not fully view Kamala Harris as black. This is not a sentiment born out of malice, but rather a nuanced discussion within black communities about what it means to be black in America. A report from the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) noted that some individuals have been put off by Harris's perceived race-switching, where she emphasizes different aspects of her heritage depending on the context (NABJ).”
“George, now that you’re done yelling at me, let me answer” – @ByronDonalds to ABC’s @GStephanopoulos in contentious “interview” in which Stephanopoulos repeatedly accused Donalds of repeating a “slur” Stephanopoulos kept bring up. #ThisWeek pic.twitter.com/TocOy8thMW
— Brent Baker 🇺🇦 🇮🇱 (@BrentHBaker) August 4, 2024
Therein lies the crux of the matter. One can debate whether Trump should have discussed the issue. However, he was asked specifically about Harris’ race, which is why he made the remarks in the first place. However, Stephanopoulos displayed his ignorance as a white progressive when he sought to scold a black man over his refusal to clutch his pearls over this “side issue.”
Related: ABC's Stephanopoulos Loses His Crap When Rep. Donalds Refuses to Back Off on Kamala's 'Blackness'
CBS News Goes to a Black Barbershop to Ask About Kamala Harris, and the Answers Are Absolute Gold
Blacks Loudly Declare Their Lack of Support for a Kamala Harris Presidency
Whether Stephanopoulos and his fellow white progressives like it or not, there has been an ongoing conversation within black spaces about whether Harris is truly “black” in the usual sense of the word. The host is late to the party on this one. It is not a new conversation and has been the topic of discussion since Harris began gaining notoriety on the national stage. This is why several outlets like the AP have delved into the conversation.
Indeed, the conversation has intensified among black Americans, with many questioning whether Harris can claim “blackness.”
Has the first "black" vice president ever spoken up for Black Americans (#Freedmen) this way? Do you think she will when she comes to South Carolina on January 15th? pic.twitter.com/Sum0fUlK3u
— MarcelForCongress (@Marcel4Congress) January 7, 2024
This is so crazy to me. This woman just wants to be combative for absolutely no reason towards this man who is merely trying to explain to her that there are movements online that are exposing the fact that Kamala is NOT a black woman and this very rude person cannot help but to… https://t.co/PyFmewGuoQ
— Nyhiem (Lord Abba) Freedmen 🇺🇸 ☪️7️⃣ (@RealNyhiem) August 3, 2024
Kamala Harris is not Black. Her culture isn't Black. Her dad isn't Black, and anyone saying she is Black is a Democrat bot. When we say Black, we mean does your family go back to emancipated people here in the United States,not skin color. https://t.co/KiEYVM5foJ
— Harry Johnson (@HellXJohnson) August 4, 2024
Here is an old CNN story on Kamala Harris where she was almost being portrayed as the next Gandhi …
— Tariq Nasheed 🇺🇸 (@tariqnasheed) August 1, 2024
Where was all the collard greens, hot sauce, and Tupac?
When did the performative Blackness start? pic.twitter.com/qLKIm6KWXL
The fact that Stephanopoulos was so adamant about inserting himself into the conversation, which is had mostly among black folks, indicates a remarkable lack of consideration of the beliefs many African Americans share about the vice president. The issue isn’t whether she is a black woman, per se. Her father is a black man from Jamaica, which means she is half-black. However, Harris was not necessarily raised as a black American woman, nor does she share the history of African Americans – especially those who descend from slaves.
This is why there is debate among black folks about Harris’ ability to relate to African Americans and address the issues they are facing in their communities. Sure, it is a side issue. But it is one that folks like Stephanopoulos, like most of his elite white progressive comrades, can’t possibly understand. Perhaps instead of using the issue to go after a Republican lawmaker, he could have sought to learn more about the issue.
