Donald Harris: The Uninvolved Father of Vice President Kamala Harris

As Vice President Kamala Harris receives significant recognition for her political achievements, many of her family members are expected to be present at the event. Her husband, Doug Emhoff, stepchildren, and sister, Maya Harris, are among those who will cheer her on. However, there is uncertainty regarding the attendance of her father, Donald J. Harris, who is her only living parent following the death of her mother, Shyamala Gopalan, in 2009.

Donald Harris is an accomplished economist and served as a professor at Stanford University before his retirement. Originally from Jamaica, he moved to the United States to pursue a doctorate degree at the University of California, Berkeley. It was there that he met Shyamala Gopalan, with whom he had two daughters, Kamala and Maya, before their divorce.

After the separation, Shyamala was granted primary custody of the children, but Donald remained a part of their lives, visiting on weekends and during summers. In her memoir, “The Truths We Hold,” Kamala reflected on their young ages during the divorce, which may have impacted their emotional maturity at the time.

Donald Harris’s economic views are often influenced by Marxist theory. He has remained involved with his home country of Jamaica by advising on economic matters. Despite his achievements, Donald has been notably absent from significant events surrounding his daughter’s political career, including the Democratic National Convention (DNC).

It is unlikely that Donald Harris will appear during the Democratic National Convention, as he has not participated in any events throughout the week. His lack of involvement has been evident throughout Kamala’s 2020 vice presidential campaign as well, with no public remarks or appearances made.

The last notable statement from Donald regarding Kamala’s political endeavors came in 2019 during her first presidential campaign. This followed a comment made by Kamala in response to a question about her previous marijuana use, referencing her Jamaican heritage. Donald publicly expressed his disapproval, indicating that he and his immediate family wished to distance themselves from what he described as a damaging stereotype linked to their Jamaican identity.

Before concluded his career at Stanford, Donald Harris also held a position at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The family lived in Madison when Kamala was young, a period she noted in her memoir as significant in her parents’ eventual separation. This experience showcases the complexities of family dynamics amid political and personal pursuits.