Janet Jackson’s “Mr. Harris is Not Black” Comment Ignites Controversy: Michael’s Influence?

Janet Jackson, the sister of Michael Jackson and a popular American singer, caused a stir by stating that Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris is “not Black.” This controversy has spread widely, even being addressed on an ABC News program where commentators criticized her remarks.

In an interview with The Guardian published on September 21, Janet was asked about Harris possibly becoming the first Black woman president if she defeats Trump in November. Janet replied, 

“She’s not Black. I heard that. She’s Indian.”

Her mother is Indian, her father is Jamaican-American.

When the interviewer pointed out that she was both Black and Indian, she reportedly said,

“I heard that. I haven’t watched the news in a few days. I heard it was revealed that her father is White.”

Kamala Harris’s mother is Indian, and her father is the prominent Jamaican American economist Donald Harris. In 2021, she made history as the first woman Vice President in the United States with both Black and South Asian parents. Harris has stated that she grew up exposed to Indian traditions and often visited India.

On the other hand, she enrolled in Howard University, which traditionally has a large population of Black students, and was a member of the predominantly Black sorority “Alpha Kappa Alpha.” Making false claims of not being Black without knowing such “basic information” could lead to a significant image downfall for Janet.

According to Page Six, Janet’s aides were confused by the interview.