Beyonce, Adele, Madonna and Prince; all iconic names with no need for further introduction. These first names speak for themselves and Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign takes on that same approach.
After Republican candidate Donald Trump mispronounced Harris’ name at a rally in North Carolina, he was later corrected by Harris’ grandnieces who took the stage at the Democratic National Convention this past August. The young girls taught the audience members in attendance and watching at home the correct way of pronouncing “Kamala” in a moment that went viral, cementing her campaign as being marketed through a first-name basis. This approach rings unfamiliar to Americans who are used to referring to presidents and candidates alike by their last names. This minor detail seems to be a reflection of a major shift happening in our country. Harris has been the first to do many things, she is the first woman, the first African American and the first South Asian American to become vice president. If anything, she has proven she is no stranger to trying something new.
Some have argued that the use of a first name is disrespectful in a professional setting and may negatively impact her campaign. While this is a reasonable argument, one cannot help but wonder if her having an ethnic name is the real cause behind the criticism. After all, it is not unheard of for people with more ethnic names to be negatively profiled or discriminated against in the American workplace.
Harris is not the first candidate to run with her first name. Bernie Sanders, the candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination in the 2016 and 2020 elections, ran primarily under his first name with no major backlash. This makes it seem as though white, male candidates are the only ones who are allowed to take on this approach without criticism, making the argument that it is unprofessional more of a double standard. Not to mention the lack of professionalism seen from former presidents, referring to a candidate by their first name may not be the most unprofessional thing a national election has seen.
Trump himself contributed to the attention by initially mocking Harris’ name. He even went on to say in a rally in Montana that “nobody really knows her last name,” and that could not have had a more adverse effect than what he intended. Harris running with her first name is a smart marketing move on her part, as she now connects with the American people on a more personal level. Welcoming the nation to be on a first-name basis with her feels like an invitation to approach her as a peer rather than just another politician.
The Kamala campaign reflects the ways in which America is moving forward, providing a newfound sense of hope. It reminds the American people of a nation they have the power to change, with the guarantee that no one should have trouble pronouncing Kamala from this point on.
