Kamala Harris accused of code-switching during Detroit speech
Harris criticised for changing accent at Detroit union event
![Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris speaks at a campaign event at Northwestern High School in Detroit, Monday, Sept. 2, 2024. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin).](https://thethaiger.com/world/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Election_2024_Harris_24246692181599.jpg)
Kamala Harris again faces allegations for changing her accent, this time during a speech at a teachers’ union in Michigan.
Critics accuse the vice president nominee of adopting a ‘fake accent’ while addressing union members at a Detroit high school on Monday. Social media users claimed she altered her voice to connect with the audience, sparking online debate.
Harris has previously faced similar accusations. With just two months until election day, these claims have resurfaced. One X user commented, “New Kamala accent just dropped,” in reaction to a clip of Harris speaking at the event.
![Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris speaks at a campaign event at Northwestern High School in Detroit, Monday, Sept. 2, 2024. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin).](https://thethaiger.com/world/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/APTOPIX_Election_2024_Harris_24246646531318-300x200.jpg)
During her remarks, Harris is said to have used an urban accent to appeal to the working-class crowd. She stated, “You may not be a union member but you better thank a union member for the five-day work week,” in a tone different from her usual speeches.
She continued, “You better thank a union member for sick leave. You better thank a union member for paid leave. You better thank a union member for vacation time.”
An X user sarcastically commented, “I’m from California. We all talk like this,” alongside a phonetic spelling of Harris’s speech. When an audience member mentioned her future beyond the 2024 election, Harris, still using the accent, replied with a smile, “Let’s just get through the next 64 days.”
Harris was in Detroit on Labour Day, speaking at Northwestern High School about unions’ contributions. The vice president, of Jamaican and Indian descent, has been accused by the Trump campaign of using her racial background for political gain.
🔥🚨BREAKING: Kamala Harris has been caught changing her accent for Black people after she delivered the same exact line in a speech earlier today in Detroit with a southern Black accent and again in Pittsburgh with her regular accent a few hours later. pic.twitter.com/YK4nkb7uqM
— Dom Lucre | Breaker of Narratives (@dom_lucre) September 2, 2024
Trump remarked during an interview with the National Association of Black Journalists in Chicago that Harris only started “promoting” her blackness when she ran for president.
Journalist Jonathan Choe noted on X that Harris was employing code-switching to connect with the predominantly Black and urban audience. “Kamala Harris code switching again as she busts out a new accent at a rally in Detroit,” he wrote.
Harris also faced mockery in July for using a Southern accent during a rally in Atlanta, Georgia. She told voters, “You all helped us win in 2020 and we gonna do it again in 2024,” in a Southern drawl. Harris, who grew up in San Francisco and spent her high school years in Montreal, often adopts a Southern accent when speaking to Southern communities.
![Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris greets supporters after speaking at a campaign event at Northwestern High School in Detroit, Monday, Sept. 2, 2024. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin).](https://thethaiger.com/world/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Election_2024_Harris_24246692482200-300x200.jpg)
In the 2020 campaign trail, Harris was criticised for extending her vowels during an event in Florida, saying, “We will tell them we were hangin’ out in a parking lot this particular Saturday afternoon with Kamala and all our friends.”
Outkick writer Ian Miller joked that Harris might adopt a British accent on a future trip to England. Another pro-MAGA account, End Wokeness, commented, “BREAKING: Kamala Harris unveils a new urban accent in Detroit,” while another user described it as “cringe pandering,” accusing Harris of using the accent to appeal to a specific demographic.
What Other Media Are Saying
- AOL News reports that Vice President Kamala Harris’ new accent at a Detroit rally has gone viral, with critics calling it “cringe” and comparing it to Foghorn Leghorn, sparking debates about authenticity and performance. (read more)
- NYPost reports Vice President Kamala Harris was criticised for using a “fake accent” in a Detroit speech, sparking controversy over authenticity and credibility. (read more)
- Fox News reports that Vice President Kamala Harris drew criticism for using a “fake” Southern accent during a rally in Atlanta, with some comparing it to Hillary Clinton’s similar accent use. (read more)
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions asked about this news
What are the latest allegations against Kamala Harris?
Critics claim she used a ‘fake accent’ during a speech to a teachers union in Michigan.
Why are people accusing Kamala Harris of using a fake accent?
Social media users claim she altered her voice to relate to the working-class crowd.
Has Kamala Harris faced similar allegations before?
Yes, she was previously mocked for using a Southern accent during a rally in Atlanta.
What do critics say about Kamala Harris’s use of different accents?
Critics call it ‘code switching’ to relate more with specific audiences.
What is Donald Trump’s stance on Kamala Harris’s identity claims?
Trump has accused her of using her blackness to her advantage when it suits her.