In the heart of Jamaica’s St Ann parish lies Brown’s Town, a close-knit rural community that holds a special place in the life story of Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee poised to make history as the first woman and person of Jamaican descent to become president of the United States. It was here, amid the winding roads and rolling hills of the Dry Harbour mountains, that a young Kamala spent many cherished holidays with her family, forging connections to her Jamaican heritage that would shape her identity and inspire her political journey.
A Childhood of Adventure and Curiosity
Born to a Jamaican father, the economist Donald Harris, and an Indian mother, biomedical scientist Shyamala Gopalan, Kamala Harris spent her childhood summers exploring the lush landscapes of Brown’s Town with her younger sister Maya. Their first cousin Sherman Harris, just a few days younger than Kamala, recalls those carefree days with fondness.
“Maya was a little quiet, but Kamala was like a tomboy, running, jumping and leaping around the mountain areas. Miss Chrishy had to call her and tell her to ‘get inside now, it’s dinner time – come and stop the jumping over those places’,”
– Sherman Harris, Kamala’s first cousin
Even as a child, Kamala displayed a keen intellect and insatiable curiosity, asking questions that belied her young age. When her peers couldn’t provide the answers she sought, she turned to her father, whose encouragement to “run, Kamala, run” and “be fearless” left an indelible mark on her character.
Pride in Jamaican Roots
Throughout her life, Harris has spoken proudly of her Jamaican heritage and the values instilled in her by her father. “My father, like so many Jamaicans, has immense pride in our Jamaican heritage and instilled that same pride in my sister and me,” she told the Washington Post in 2021. This connection to her roots has remained strong, despite a reported strain in her relationship with her father following her parents’ divorce in 1972.
Sherman Harris dismisses these reports as “total rubbish,” affirming that Donald Harris is “in full support of her, and he is happy for her.” The pride that Jamaicans feel for Kamala is palpable, with many seeing her achievements as a testament to the strength and resilience of the Jamaican people.
Inspiring a Nation, Raising Questions
As Harris’s historic campaign reaches its climax, her success has ignited a sense of pride and possibility among Jamaicans at home and abroad. Alexcia White, a journalism student in Kingston, sees Harris as proof that “it doesn’t matter your race or your background. As long as you hold your head up high, know what you want and go for it, you can be whatever you want to be.”
Yet, amidst the excitement, some Jamaicans question whether a Harris presidency would yield tangible benefits for the country. Dana McCallum, an architecture student, wonders, “Will she do anything that will improve our economy? I don’t see how her becoming president will affect Jamaicans.”
“When she wins, it’s going to be up to us, as Jamaican Americans, to hold her accountable to have a keen interest in her heritage and in how that experience can be leveraged for the benefit of Jamaica and the rest of the Caribbean.”
– Marlon Hill, Jamaican-American lawyer
As the world watches, the small community of Brown’s Town eagerly awaits the moment Kamala Harris is declared the next president of the United States. For her cousin Sherman and countless others, there is no doubt that she will prevail, making history once more and carrying the hopes and dreams of Jamaica with her to the White House.
In the end, Kamala Harris’s remarkable journey from the hills of Brown’s Town to the precipice of the presidency stands as a powerful symbol of the enduring bonds between Jamaica and the United States, and a reminder of the limitless potential that lies within every child, no matter their background or circumstances. As she steps into the role of commander-in-chief, the world will be watching to see how this daughter of Jamaica wields her power and influence, and whether she can harness her unique heritage to forge a brighter future for both nations.
