News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Thurs. Aug. 15, 2024. VP Kamala Harris stands poised to potentially become the first woman to ascend to the presidency of the United States. It’s time to reflect on a part of her heritage that has been too often overlooked in both her political career and American foreign policy – her Caribbean roots. Specifically, the legacy of Kamala Harris’s father, Donald Harris. He is a Jamaican-born economist whose influence on her is far more than academic. It is a heritage rich in culture, history, and resilience. One that could guide her in forging a new, impactful direction for U.S. relations. Specifically with the Caribbean, Central, and South America—regions that have been too long neglected by successive American administrations.
Donald Harris, born and raised in Jamaica, a retired Stanford professor; he is a product of the Caribbean – a region that, despite its proximity and deep historical ties to the United States, has been sidelined in American foreign policy. The Caribbean’s significance extends far beyond its idyllic beaches and tourist appeal. It is a region rich in natural resources, cultural diversity, and untapped economic potential. More importantly, it is a region that has historically been a microcosm of the larger struggles against colonialism, economic exploitation, and the quest for true sovereignty.
For Kamala Harris, this heritage must not a footnote. It is a powerful foundation upon which to build a new era of diplomacy and cooperation. The time has come for her to not only embrace her Caribbean roots but to use them as a launching pad for a transformative U.S. policy towards the countries south of our border recognizing that the Caribbean, along with Central and South America, deserves more and far better than the neglect it has received from Washington.
For too long, U.S. policy towards this vital region has been one of hidden neglect at best. The administrations of the past, including the current one, have focused their attention elsewhere. They left a vacuum that has been filled by economic instability, political unrest, and the creeping influence of other global powers especially China. The approach has been reactive rather than proactive, sporadic rather than consistent. This must change, and Kamala Harris is in a unique position to lead that change.
Imagine an American President where the Caribbean and Latin America are not afterthoughts, but central to the United States’ foreign policy strategy. Where the U.S. sees its neighbors not just as problems to manage but as partners in a shared quest for prosperity, security, and democracy. Kamala Harris, with her deep personal connection to the Caribbean, should be the leader to initiate this new vision – a vision that her father, Donald Harris, with his own ideas about economic justice, would undoubtedly champion.
This new policy must be more than just words. It must be a comprehensive, sustained effort to engage with our southern neighbors on issues that matter most to them: economic development, climate change, migration, and the strengthening of democratic institutions. It means prioritizing trade agreements that benefit both sides, investing in infrastructure that connects the Americas fir a dynamic future, and supporting initiatives that promote sustainable development and reduce inequality.
Kamala Harris’s presidency could be the dawn of a new era in U.S.-Caribbean and Latin American relations – one where the United States finally recognizes the strategic importance of these regions and the role they must play in a globally interconnected world.
In her acceptance speech in Chicago, Kamala Harris should proudly acknowledge the influence of her father, Donald Harris, and the Caribbean heritage that he has passed down to her. She should speak of the dreams that her father had for a more just and equitable world, and how those dreams will guide her in forging a new path for U.S. foreign policy—one that values the relationships with our closest neighbors as much as those across oceans.
This is not just about rectifying past mistakes; it is about building a future where the United States and the nations of the Caribbean, Central, and South America work together as equals. Kamala Harris has the unique opportunity to redefine what it means to be a good neighbor, to replace old paradigms of dominance with new frameworks of cooperation and mutual respect.
By Arthur Piccolo
