Social media roasts Kamala Harris over ‘new accent’ at CBC Foundation event

Vice President Kamala Harris has become the subject of online mockery following her appearance at the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s Phoenix Awards Dinner in Washington, D.C., on Saturday night. Harris’s use of what some commentators are calling a “new accent” during her speech has elicited a flurry of critical reactions on social media.

Harris began her speech by addressing the crowd with a unique accent, stating, “Hello to all of my HBCU brothers and sisters, and to all of my Divine Nine brothers and sisters.” The account End Wokeness swiftly posted the video to X (previously Twitter), captioning it with the phrase “BREAKING: Kamala Harris unveils a new accent at the Black Caucus Dinner.” Many people responded to the post by making fun of her delivery.

Paul A. Szypula, a prominent social media user with over 232,700 followers, criticized Harris’s accent, suggesting that it was an “old fake black accent” and calling it “incredibly insulting to black people.” Similarly, Collin Rugg, who has 1.4 million followers, shared the clip with a sarcastic comment about Harris’s “new accent,” indicating that it had appeared throughout her campaign at various times.

James Hirsen, another commentator, joined the conversation with a tweet about Harris’s “accent du jour,” further fueling the discussion. The backlash underscores ongoing debates about Harris’s authenticity and her efforts to connect with Black voters as she navigates the 2024 election cycle.

Harris’s speech was part of her broader outreach strategy, including upcoming engagements with the National Association of Black Journalists and a live-streamed rally featuring high-profile supporters such as Oprah Winfrey. Despite the controversy, her campaign continues to emphasize her unique position as the first Black and South Asian Vice President of the United States and her potential future candidacy for the presidency.

The mockery surrounding Harris’s accent reflects broader tensions in political discourse, where public figures often face scrutiny over their perceived authenticity and efforts to connect with diverse voter bases.