Vice President Kamala Harris is facing backlash after delivering a speech at the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s Phoenix Awards Dinner in Washington, D.C., where critics claim she adopted a “new accent” to address the crowd.
The event, part of the annual gathering of the Congressional Black Caucus, quickly gained attention online, with social media users mocking Harris for the way she spoke.
During her speech, Harris greeted the audience by acknowledging her ties to historically Black institutions, saying, “Hello to all of my Divine Nine brothers and sisters,” a reference to the historically Black fraternities and sororities.
She also mentioned her connection to Howard University, where she graduated, and Alpha Kappa Alpha, one of the “Divine Nine” sororities.
While Harris has often highlighted her ties to these communities, the delivery of her remarks this time sparked controversy.
A clip of the speech circulated on X (formerly Twitter), where users pointed out the perceived shift in Harris’s accent.
The account “End Wokeness” posted a video of the speech, commenting, “BREAKING: Kamala Harris unveils a new accent at the Black Caucus Dinner,” which quickly went viral.
https://twitter.com/EndWokeness/status/1835124216049357258?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Other users joined the conversation, with some accusing Harris of pandering.
One user, Paul A. Szypula, who has a large following on X, remarked, “New? Or is it her old fake Black accent? Either way, it’s incredibly insulting to Black people. Shame on Kamala”
https://twitter.com/Bubblebathgirl/status/1835133222059229433?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Similarly, Collin Rugg, with over a million followers, commented, “Kamala Harris brings out her new accent at the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s 2024 Phoenix Awards Dinner.”
He went on to claim that Harris has used this accent at various points throughout her campaign.
https://twitter.com/CollinRugg/status/1835123667283681315?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Critics have noted that Harris, who was raised in Canada, has been accused of altering her accent depending on the audience she’s addressing. This has led to accusations of pandering, with some pointing to previous instances where Harris appeared to change her tone while speaking to different groups.
For example, a side-by-side video circulated earlier in September showed her using different tones when speaking in Detroit and Pittsburgh just hours apart.
https://twitter.com/_johnnymaga/status/1830733169072767446?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
This isn’t the first time Harris has faced scrutiny over her speech delivery. In the past, videos have compiled moments of her using what critics call “phony accents” in various settings, ranging from what she believes to be a Detroit accent to a Southern drawl when speaking in Georgia.
https://twitter.com/SteveGuest/status/1830683943332651457?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
The consistency of these critiques has kept the conversation alive, with Harris’s speech patterns continuing to be a talking point for some.
Earlier this month, Fox News’ Peter Doocy pressed White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre on the issue during a press briefing. Doocy asked why Harris seemed to adopt a Southern accent when addressing certain audiences, referring to the practice of code-switching.
Jean-Pierre brushed off the question, stating she had “no idea” what Doocy was referring to, and shifted the conversation to more pressing issues like the economy and healthcare.
https://twitter.com/charliekirk11/status/1831065961128145264?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Despite the criticism, Harris remains focused on outreach to key voting blocs.
She is scheduled to meet with members of the National Association of Black Journalists in Philadelphia in the coming days and will also participate in a livestreamed rally alongside Oprah Winfrey, aiming to connect with Black women, white women, and South Asian voters.
The controversy over Harris’s speech patterns reflects broader debates about authenticity in political communication, with critics and supporters alike closely analyzing the vice president’s campaign appearances.
