© 2024 Kansas City Public Radio
NPR in Kansas City
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

What Sen. Kamala Harris' Vice Presidential Candidacy Means For Multiracial People In The U.S.

Senator Kamala Harris of California stands akimbo while holding a microphone up to her face in front of an American flag backdrop.
Gage Skidmore
/
Flickr
The historic vice presidential candidacy of Sen. Kamala Harris has given rise to reflections on race and identity.

That Kamala Harris was the first Black woman and also the first Asian American woman to be the presumptive nominee for vice president came as a surprise to many.

"She appears to lean into her Black identity," says writer Nisha Chittal, but her cultural, ethnic and racial background is more nuanced. The historic nomination is prompting new conversations about being multiracial in the U.S.

Stay Connected
As a host and contributor at KCUR, I seek to create a more informed citizenry and richer community. I want to enlighten and inspire our audience by delivering the information they need with accuracy and urgency, clarifying what’s complicated and teasing out the complexities of what seems simple. I work to craft conversations that reveal realities in our midst and model civil discourse in a divided world. Follow me on Twitter @ptsbrian or email me at brian@kcur.org.
As senior producer of Up To Date, I want our listeners to hear familiar and new voices that shine light on the issues and challenges facing the myriad communities KCUR serves, and to expose our audiences to the wonderful and the creative in the Kansas City area. Just as important to me is an obligation to mentor the next generation of producers to ensure that the important conversations continue. Reach me at alexanderdk@kcur.org.
As culture editor, I oversee KCUR’s coverage of race, culture, the arts, food and sports. I work with reporters to make sure our stories reflect the fullest view of the place we call home, so listeners and readers feel primed to explore the places, projects and people who make up a vibrant Kansas City. Email me at luke@kcur.org.
KCUR prides ourselves on bringing local journalism to the public without a paywall — ever.

Our reporting will always be free for you to read. But it's not free to produce.

As a nonprofit, we rely on your donations to keep operating and trying new things. If you value our work, consider becoming a member.