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What Janet Jackson Did—and Didn’t—Say About Kamala Harris’ Race

BBG News

As a longtime admirer of Janet Jackson and her powerful voice for social justice, I find myself deeply disappointed by her recent comments regarding Kamala Harris’ race. Throughout her career, Janet has been a beacon of unity and understanding, advocating passionately for causes that celebrate diversity and promote equality. Her latest remarks, however, seem to be rooted in misinformation and misunderstanding.

58-year-old singer and actress Janet Jackson, sister of the late Michael Jackson, has repeated a misleading statement about Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris, claiming that she is not Black but Indian. In an interview with The Guardian, Jackson said that Harris’ father is white, implying that this information is what she has heard. This statement contradicts Harris’ self-identification as Black and Indian American.

“I mean, I haven’t watched the news in a few days,” she added. 

Harris, throughout her political journey, has consistently acknowledged being of both Black and Indian American descent. Any assertions to the contrary have been found to be untrue through fact-checking. Her father, Donald Harris, is an economist and professor at Stanford University, originally hailing from Jamaica. On the other hand, her mother, Shyamala Gopalan, a biomedical scientist who passed away in 2009, was born in India.

Jackson’s recent remarks seem to align with the falsehoods spread by Trump, Harris’ Republican opponent, who asserted in July that Harris “just happened to become Black and now she wants to be recognized as such.” The former President reiterated this claim during a recent debate, stating, “I heard she was Black. Then I heard she wasn’t Black.

The interview conducted by The Guardian with Jackson sparked a massive wave of responses on social media, with numerous posts criticizing and ridiculing the singer garnering millions of views.

The “Janet Jackson issue” serves as a reminder of how detached some famous figures can be from reality. Despite my admiration for her, repeating untruths is hard to stomach! If you’re not knowledgeable about a topic, it would be wise to stay quiet – more so when you have such a large platform. Comedian D.L. Hughley compared the interview to a Trump rally, while an account dedicated to celebrities including Jackson labeled her words as “reckless.

In a modern twist, I’m compelled to defend Janet Jackson from the criticisms surrounding her comments on race. As a child of the 90s, it’s disheartening to see such attempts to undermine her freedom of speech. Just like Royce White, the Republican nominee for Minnesota’s U.S. Senate race, I stand firm in saying: “Let’s not sully Janet Jackson’s reputation. If voicing my opinion earns me a loss of ‘Black card’, so be it.

Then the saga took an even stranger turn.

According to multiple media sources, including Buzzfeed, who initially reported it, Mo Elmasri, allegedly Jackson’s manager and credited as a producer on Jackson’s documentary on IMDB, stated on Sunday that Jackson acknowledges her previous comments about Harris’ race were based on incorrect information. Jackson expressed regret for any misunderstanding these remarks may have caused. The statement further clarifies that Jackson appreciates Harris’ mixed heritage of being both Black and Indian and apologizes for any confusion. Jackson values the diversity Harris embodies and recognizes the significance of celebrating this diversity in today’s society. Jackson continues to dedicate herself to fostering unity and understanding.

However, on Sunday itself, the singer’s representatives denied Elmasri’s claim, explaining that he did not have the authority to represent her.

In a separate statement to Variety, Elmasri expressed that he was let go by Janet and Randy Jackson, following his efforts to enhance her public image and connect with fans. He further mentioned this wasn’t something he felt he deserved. According to reports from Variety, Elmasri had no direct connection to the singer, a claim supported by USA Today’s report stating that Elmasri had never been part of Jackson’s team. As they are mourning their late brother Tito, Randy and Janet Jackson are currently unavailable for comment, with Variety reporting they are inaccessible at this time.

For many years throughout her career in the entertainment industry, Jackson has consistently stood up for social equality. She’s leveraged her influence and musical talents to speak out on issues such as LGBTQ rights, women’s rights, and the Black Lives Matter cause.

When a Guardian reporter questioned Jackson about her assertion that Harris isn’t African-American and asked if America was prepared for a woman of color as President, according to reports, Jackson responded: ” frankly, I don’t feel comfortable answering that question. I genuinely can’t say one way or the other. I believe either outcome will lead to chaos.

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2024-09-23 13:06

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