Summary
The United States 2024 national election will undoubtedly provide a plentiful source of political attacks on Kamala Harris based on bigoted tropes having to do with her race, gender, or other characteristics.
This report examines how some politicians and media outlets are bringing attention to her hair, or using photo editing to give her alternate hair styles.
An example is provided below the selection of reference articles.
Pejorative Hair Depiction
Below is a promotional image that was used for a news report on 12 Sep 2024. [Source]
In the image above, Donald Trump is shown with a skin color that is different than his usual orange spray tan. His hair is nicely combed and given a distinguished slightly gray coloring. Overall a better look than normal for the candidate.
By contrast, the image used for Kamala Harris is a manipulated version of her picture, with plumes of smoke around her head made to look like an unkempt hairdo. Kamala’s image is turned about 15 degrees counterclockwise to line up with the smoke. Then her head is sized to have the dark smoke perfectly frame in her face.
Rather than have a wall of smoke behind her, as was done with Trump’s image, the smoke is very carefully air brushed into Kamala’s hair, almost like a stylist would attach a hair extension, so it blends in. Also, the photo editing includes the addition of mud or stain smeared on her face in an erratic manner.
Natural hair styles can be an expression of cultural pride, are considered to be beautiful, and demonstrate a desire to stand-out rather than conforming to broad artificially derived standards of beauty. However, depending on how they are depicted, they can either be positive or used in a derogatory manner.
Video Message
The video begins with Malcolm X delivering an impassioned speech, and continues from there to build a case against Kamala Harris with the claim that she is just another unwavering pro-Israel candidate.
The video shows a series of U.S. presidents proclaiming loyalty to Israel: Richard Nixon, George W. Bush, Barack Obama, Joe Biden, Donald Trump, and ending on Kamala Harris saying that Israel has a right to defend itself.
In the case of Kamala Harris, and only with her, the words are taken out of context. She is one of the few U.S. politicians to speak out about the unacceptable suffering in Gaza. Defend Israel, yes, but not at the cost of engaging in what some see as war crimes. That’s an important distinction.
So, within the first 45 seconds of the 19 minute video, the groundwork is established to seemingly vilify Kamala Harris using some racist tropes and black and white video from the previous century of a controversial leader — Malcom X.
The video seems to be focused on convincing pro-Palestine voters to vote for third party candidates such as Jill Stein of the Green Party. The video also includes Robert F. Kennedy as a third party candidate, even though he has long since dropped out and endorsed Trump.
Conclusion
The purpose of evaluating the above video is simply to offer it as an example of what we’re likely to see in the weeks leading up to the November 2024 election — misinformation and targeted propaganda intended to pull progressives away from the Democratic Party and into supporting third party candidates or participating in protest votes.
While the intended audience is presumably young male progressives, references to decades-old news about leaders from the 1960s and 1970s suggest the person or people making the video was older and used references familiar to someone of their own generation.
Reference Articles
The following articles offer further reading on the significance of hair styles. Articles are listed in alphabetical order by title.
- “Black Women Hair: We’re Still Dealing with Race-Based Hair Discrimination,” DCP Official, 16 Feb 2022. [Read Article] Excerpt: Even though the natural hair movement is thriving, Black women (and men) are still dealing with pushback against natural and protective styles. Afros are deemed “political.” Dreadlocks are “too messy” for work. Black women can’t even sport their natural curls without being called “unprofessional.” Why are people so offended by Black hair? Like so many issues in America, the answer lies deep in our history. Discrimination against Black hair is part of America’s legacy of racism, going back to slavery. [Read Article]
- “Hair Discrimination and Global Politics of Anti-Blackness,” by Adele Norris, 19 Oct 2021, published by The African American Intellectual History Society (AAIHS). [Read Article] Excerpt: Recent cases of Black hair/style regulation and punishment in Britain, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, and the United States reveal a deep-seated hostility between Black identity/hair and broader society. Policies discriminating against Black hairstyles in schools have ignited a level of resistance among Black youth that has not been seen in decades, which has garnered support from Black Lives Matter. The emerging forms of resistance highlight the treatment of Black hair as an extension of anti-blackness where Black youth have consistently been the primary targets of policies that are far from benign and race-neutral. [Read Article]
- “How Hair Discrimination Affects Black Women at Work,” by Janice Gassam Asare, 10 May 2023, Harvard Business Review. [Read Article] Excerpt: Afro-textured hair is stereotyped and stigmatized around the world. Even in places where there are protections against race-based hair discrimination, Black women bear the brunt of the burden when it comes to hair bias. [Read Article]
- “How Natural Black Hair at Work Became a Civil Rights Issue,” by Chanté Griffin, published by JSTORE academic journal, 3 Jul 2019. On the 55th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act, U.S. courts are still divided about African Americans’ right to wear their natural hair in the workplace. [Read Article] Excerpt: “In 2010, Chastity Jones eagerly accepted a job offer from Catastrophe Management Solutions as a customer service representative. The offer, however, came with one caveat—she had to cut off her locs. Jones refused, and the company rescinded its job offer.” [Read Article]
- “New York is second state to ban discrimination based on natural hairstyles,” by Janelle Griffith, 15 Jul 2019, NBC News. [Read Article] Excerpt: New York became the second state to ban discrimination based on natural hairstyles after Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed a bill Friday amending the state’s Human Rights Law. [Read Article]
- “The Hatred of Black Hair Goes Beyond Ignorance,” by Areva Martin, 23 Aug 2017, published by Time. [Read Article] Excerpt: Like many young black girls who were subjected to the subliminal messaging that taught us we should envy our white peers’ silky straight locks, I grew up having a love-hate relationship with my natural hair. By the age of five, I was already well accustomed to being sat down in a chair next to the stove and having my thick locks raked and “pressed” with a straightening comb. I remember how anxious I felt as my cousin pressed down hard on my roots, knowing full well that one tiny slip of her hand could lead to a permanent burn mark on my face, ear or neck. [Read Article]
- “Why is black hair so political?,” a reader guide from the BBC. No date is provided, but a reference to legislation in New York suggests the article is from 2019. [Read Article] Excerpt: In July this year, New York joined California as the second state in the US to ban racial discrimination on the basis of natural hair textures. Now there are petitions to bring this law to the UK. The CROWN Act (Create a Respectful and Open Workplace for Natural Hair) says that European beauty standards have allowed a history of some workplace dress codes banning natural black hair. [Read Article]