ECNETNews, New York, NY, August 23, 2024: On the final day of the 2024 Democratic National Convention, Vice President Kamala Harris delivered a compelling speech as she formally accepted the Democratic nomination for president. In her remarks, she fondly recalled her mother, Shyamala Gopalan Harris, with her references to her father being notably limited and devoid of any personal identifiers.
“At the park, my mother would say, ‘Stay close.’ But my father would encourage with a smile, ‘Run, Kamala, run. Don’t be afraid. Don’t let anything stop you.’ From my earliest years, he taught me to be fearless,” she remarked.
Interestingly, her father was not present at the convention, despite being her only living parent. Harris’ 2019 memoir notes that her parents divorced during her childhood, yet he remained involved in her upbringing, spending weekends and summers with his daughters.
Exploring Kamala Harris’ Father, Donald J. Harris
Donald Jasper Harris, born August 23, 1938, in Browns’ Town, Jamaica, is the son of Oscar Joseph Harris and Beryl Christie Harris. His ancestry includes connections to Irish plantation owner Hamilton Brown, who established the local Anglican church. A dedicated Anglican, Harris was baptized and confirmed during his youth.
Understanding Browns’ Town
Browns’ Town, situated in northwest St Ann within the Dry Harbour Mountains, is approximately eight miles from Jamaica’s north coast. Established by Hamilton Brown, who is interred in the local church, the town emerged as a market center in the mid-19th century following the abolition of slavery, attracting trade and commerce from surrounding villages.
Known as the educational hub of St. Ann, Browns’ Town boasts Brown’s Town Community College and multiple high schools, including St. Hilda’s Diocesan High School for Girls. It also features the St. Christopher School for the Deaf, the only institution for the hearing impaired outside Kingston.
The town offers access to health services, with the regional hospitals providing comprehensive care. Notable individuals from Browns’ Town include former government minister D.K. Duncan and artist Gloria Escoffery.
Donald Harris, after graduating from Titchfield High School, pursued higher education at the University College of the West Indies before relocating to London for a Bachelor of Arts degree and subsequently earning a PhD at the University of California, Berkeley.
While at Berkeley, he met Shyamala Gopalan, and they married in 1963, welcoming daughters Kamala and Maya before their divorce eight years later. Despite challenges in their custody battle, Donald remained devoted to his daughters.
In a 2019 article, he reflected on their relationship, which faced significant challenges post-divorce. “After a hard-fought custody battle… the judge imposed a settlement based on the false assumption that fathers cannot handle parenting,” he commented, reaffirming his commitment to his daughters.
His scholarly work, published in a 1978 book, was dedicated to his daughters, highlighting his enduring love and dedication.
A Distinguished Academic Career
Donald Harris has had a prominent academic career, beginning as an assistant professor at various universities and eventually becoming a professor of economics at Stanford University in 1972—the first Black scholar to achieve tenure in that department. He has contributed significantly to discussions on economic inequality and has been involved in Jamaica’s economic policy development.
Awards and Recognition
His contributions to academia have been recognized with numerous accolades, including the Order of Merit from Jamaica in 2021.
The Divide
Despite his achievements, Donald Harris has largely remained out of the public eye regarding his daughter’s political life. He last made headlines in 2019 due to comments about a statement made by Kamala concerning marijuana, emphasizing the need to avoid stereotypes about their Jamaican heritage.
Kamala Harris has mentioned her father as “a good guy” but acknowledged their distant relationship. Now a naturalized U.S. citizen, Donald Harris leads a quiet life, observing his daughter’s groundbreaking journey from afar.
