“Black Enough” for Who? Kamala, Her Blackness, and How Identity Politics Won’t Save You

bell hooks once wrote, “I will not have my life narrowed down. I will not bow down to somebody else’s whim or to someone else’s ignorance.” Her words remind us of the challenges Black women face, especially when our identities are constantly questioned. This is exactly what’s happening with Kamala Harris. Instead of focusing on the issues that truly matter, too many are caught up in a tired debate about whether she’s “Black enough.”

But this isn’t a new experience for Black women; we’ve faced these challenges for generations. We’re either “too much” or “not enough,” our identities scrutinized as if we need permission to simply be. And let’s be clear: Kamala Harris is a Black woman. Her Jamaican roots, her Oakland upbringing, and her connection to Black culture are not up for debate. Yet, here we are, wasting time on this question.

The conversation around Harris’s identity reveals a much deeper issue that extends beyond her personal experience. The real problem isn’t Harris’s identity; it’s the relentless policing of Black women’s existence. It’s easier to nitpick Harris’s Blackness than to engage with her policies, her effectiveness as Vice President, or the complexities she faces as a woman of color in one of the highest offices in the land. However, Black women are not a monolith, and our experiences are as diverse as they are valid. Therefore, to question Harris’s Blackness is to deny the full spectrum of what it means to be Black, erasing the nuances that make our community rich.

In addition, this relentless focus on her identity is more than just a distraction—it’s a manifestation of the broader societal issues we face. Simply put, this debate reeks of misogynoir—the toxic mix of racism and sexism that Black women face daily. Moya Bailey, who coined the term, reminds us that this discrimination devalues Black women’s contributions, questions our legitimacy, and undermines our authority. It’s no coincidence that Harris’s Blackness is questioned more than her policies. That’s the game: keep us distracted with identity politics while avoiding the hard questions about her actual record.

Ultimately, this conversation is part of a larger narrative about how Black women are continually marginalized, regardless of their accomplishments. However, we can resist and challenge the narratives that seek to divide us and focus on what really matters—whether Kamala Harris is delivering on her promises and whether her leadership is moving us forward.

This isn’t just about Kamala Harris. It’s about every Black woman who’s had her expertise questioned, her identity dissected, her authority undermined. It’s about the systems that keep us in our place, questioning whether we belong, even as we break barriers and make history. But Black women have always been more than enough. We’ve led with strength, resilience, and vision. We don’t need to prove our Blackness to anyone, and we certainly don’t need to waste time on debates that only distract us from the work that needs to be done.

Kamala Harris is a Black woman. Period. The real question is, what are we doing to ensure her policies and leadership are accountable to the people she represents? To answer that, you can talk about her politics. Discuss her role as a prosecutor, her stance on criminal justice reform, and her commitment to progressive causes. These are fair game. But dragging her identity into the conversation as if it defines her ability to lead is not. Let’s hold her accountable for her actions, not for the skin she’s in. Let’s focus on that. The rest is just noise.

About Unapologetically Leading: The Black Women's Mixtape: Dedicated to the leadership journeys of Black women, this "mixtape" showcases stories both traditional and nontraditional, with the hope of creating connection and acknowledging the narratives of Black women.

About DeLisha Tapscott Ed.D.: DeLisha Tapscott, Ed.D. is a writer and social change agent with a background in English Literature and a master's degree in Organizational Management specializing in Leadership and Media Management. She has utilized her knowledge within the #SayHerName movement to help others become a catalyst for change by using their platforms to speak up against injustices impacting the Black community. With a focal point on Black women, she believes that "Black women and their stories are ignored and often become whispers in the background, like ghosts in the night."

As a facilitator, she has utilized her talents to speak at Harvard University, Texas A&M University, and the University of Maryland on the topics of social justice, the experiences of Black women within society, and intersectionality. DeLisha graduated from The University of Dayton in their School of Education and Health Sciences Ed.D program, focused on Organizational Leadership. Her research examines the intersectional experiences of identity negotiation and Black women within white-dominant spaces. She is currently a Senior Director of People & Culture for a NY-based non-profit. By championing organizational development, she seeks to center organizational change using a people-centered approach to coaching, equity and inclusion, people operations, and culture building.