Don Lemon, a former CNN host, and April Ryan, The Grio White House correspondent, had a contentious discussion about whether Kamala Harris, then a Democratic presidential candidate, should be referred to as “black” or “African American” during a segment on February 12, 2019.
Former President Donald Trump faced criticism recently for suggesting that Harris had always identified as Indian until deciding to be recognized as black during an interview with the National Association of Black Journalists. Lemon maintained in 2019 that Harris is black but not African American due to her Jamaican paternal lineage, while Ryan passionately argued that Harris could be considered both a black and African American woman.
“She is a black woman!” Ryan said. “Her father is black man from Jamaica.”
“Okay, I agree with that,” Lemon said. “But is she African American? No, no, no, no, no. But is she African American? That is a difference. There is nothing wrong with that. No one is trying to take anything away from her. I think you’re falling into a trap of that. All she had to do was say I’m black, I’m not African American. That’s it.”
Watch:
FLASHBACK: Former CNN host Don Lemon and April Ryan got into a heated fight on whether Kamala Harris is African Americanpic.twitter.com/yc3c8gPsZR
— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) August 2, 2024
