Kamala Harris, the Indian-origin U.S. Vice President, has been the subject of numerous internet memes, with the coconut tree symbol being the most prominent. Contrary to its typical derogatory use to describe someone perceived as “brown on the outside, white on the inside,” the coconut tree has become a humorous and supportive emblem for Harris.
The resurgence of the coconut meme
The meme resurfaced when Joe Biden endorsed Kamala Harris after withdrawing from the presidential race.
The internet saw this as a prime opportunity to bring back the coconut tree imagery.
Colorado Governor Jared Polis tweeted his support for Harris using three emojis: a coconut, a palm tree, and the American flag. Similarly, Hawaii Senator Brian Schatz tweeted, “Madam Vice President, we are ready to help,” accompanied by a photo of himself climbing a coconut tree.
EMILY’s List, an American political action committee dedicated to electing Democratic female candidates, also showed their support by adding a coconut and a tree to their username on social media.
The viral moment: “Fell Out of a Coconut Tree”
The association of Harris with the coconut tree can be traced back to a speech she gave in 2023 at a White House event aimed at advancing opportunities for Hispanic Americans. During her speech, Harris recounted a humorous anecdote from her mother, who would sometimes say, “I don’t know what’s wrong with you young people. You think you just fell out of a coconut tree?” This phrase quickly caught the internet’s attention, leading to a flood of memes.
The meme gained even more traction during the Presidential debate between Biden and Trump. As calls for Biden to step down grew louder, Harris supporters rallied with coconut tree memes, demonstrating their backing for her. These memes and symbols have become a part of the broader support for Harris and her political stance.
Harris and the digital landscape
Kamala Harris has a long history with internet memes. Before becoming Vice President, her reaction to winning the election with Biden, captured in the viral “We did it, Joe” video, was widely shared.
Her laughter and dance moves have also become meme material, creating a unique digital persona. The coconut tree meme’s resurgence can be attributed to two main reasons: young Democrats’ strong support for Harris and their significant online presence.
Many of these young supporters are also dissatisfied with Biden’s policies on climate change, the conflict in Gaza, the pandemic, and the potential ban on TikTok. As Taylor Lorenz, a Washington Post reporter, noted, “Harris’s new online prominence could help give the Democratic Party new prominence with young people — including major content creators — who are hesitant to vote for Biden again.”
Kamala Harris’s association with the coconut tree meme underscores the power of internet culture in shaping political narratives. While the memes offer a moment of levity, they also reflect the broader support and expectations of a younger, digitally savvy demographic. As history remembers Harris for her political battles and potential future achievements, these symbols will remain a quirky footnote in her journey.