A Viral Moment of Cuteness and Clarity
In a moment that has quickly gone viral, Kamala Harris’ grandnieces approached the stage at the Democratic National Convention (DNC) to provide a heartfelt and adorable tutorial on pronouncing the U.S. Vice President’s name. This unexpected lesson took place just before Harris’ historic address on the final night of the convention.
The two young girls, Amara and Leela, were introduced by actor Kerry Washington, who prefaced their appearance by acknowledging the frequent mispronunciation of Harris’ name by her adversaries, a tactic often used to taunt the Democratic leader. Washington emphasized the importance of respect, stating, “Confusion is understandable. Disrespect is not. So tonight we are going to help everyone get it right.”
A lesson in pronunciation
Amara, 8, and Leela, 6, stepped up to the microphone, dressed in a pink pantsuit and a blue dress, respectively. The daughters of Meena Harris, Kamala Harris’ niece, delivered their tutorial with endearing simplicity.
“First you say ‘comma’ like the comma in a sentence,” Amara instructed, followed by Leela’s enthusiastic addition, “Then you say ‘la’ like la-la-la-la-la.” The assembled audience eagerly joined in, repeating, “Comma! La! Comma! La! Kama La.”
Background and significance
Kamala Harris’ name holds significant cultural heritage, rooted in her Indian ancestry. It is pronounced “Comma-la” and means “lotus flower.” However, it has often been the target of deliberate mispronunciation by former President Trump, who has mocked her name at rallies and claimed indifference to getting it right. In one speech, Trump even declared he “couldn’t care less” about pronouncing Harris’s name correctly, falsely suggesting she herself is unsure of its pronunciation.
A family affair
The heartwarming moment didn’t end with the pronunciation tutorial. Meena Harris, mother of Amara and Leela, joined her daughters on stage to share her experiences growing up with Kamala Harris. Reflecting on her upbringing in Oakland, California, Meena spoke about the influential women in her life, including her aunt Kamala, who balanced a life of public service with family responsibilities.
“I grew up in Oakland, California in a house full of extraordinary women—my mom, my grandma, and my auntie—who showed me the meaning of service, helping her sister, a 17-year-old single mom fighting for justice for the American people and still cooking Sunday family dinner. She guided me. Now she’s guiding my own children, and I know she’ll guide our country forward,” Meena remarked.
Social media reactions
The video of Amara and Leela’s tutorial quickly spread across social media platforms, capturing the hearts of many. One user on X commented, “They love their auntie. They were perfect! And the pantsuit lives on in the next generation!” Another user expressed their delight, writing, “This is so goddamn cute I think I’m dying.”
