So, who is Kamala Harris’ father, Donald J. Harris?
Donald Jasper Harris was born on August 23, 1938, in Brown’s Town, Saint Ann Parish, Jamaica. He is the son of Oscar Joseph Harris and Beryl Christie Harris (née Finegan). His paternal grandmother, Christiana Brown, shared with him that their family descended from Irish plantation owner Hamilton Brown, who founded the local Anglican church where she is buried. Raised in the Anglican faith, Harris was baptized, confirmed, and served as an acolyte.
This Jamaican Global photo shows Kamala Harris and her dad, who is hardly ever mentioned by her.
**About Brown’s Town**
Brown’s Town is located in northwest St Ann in the Dry Harbour Mountains. The town is about 8 miles from Jamaica’s north coast. The town was founded by Hamilton Brown who is buried in the local Anglican church. He owned much of the land in the area including Minard Estate. Surrounding estates were Huntley, New Hope, Orange Valley, Belleair, and Retreat.
**A Distinguished Academic Career**
Donald Harris’ academic career began as an assistant professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign (1966-67) and at Northwestern University (1967-68). He became an associate professor at the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 1968. In 1972, he joined Stanford University as a professor of economics, becoming the first Black scholar to receive tenure in Stanford’s Department of Economics. Harris has also been a visiting professor at Yale University and Cambridge University, among others, and served on the editorial boards of several prestigious journals.
**Awards and Recognition**
Professor Harris has received numerous accolades throughout his career, including the Order of Merit from Jamaica in 2021. He has also been a Fulbright Scholar and held fellowships at institutions like Yale University and Cambridge University.
**The Divide**
Despite his many achievements, Donald Harris has remained largely absent from his daughter Kamala Harris’ political life. He last publicly commented on her career in 2019, criticizing a remark she made about marijuana use during a radio interview. “Half my family’s from Jamaica. Are you kidding me?” Kamala had said, prompting her father to respond, stating that their Jamaican heritage should not be associated with “the fraudulent stereotype of a pot-smoking joy seeker.”
**Conclusion**
Kamala Harris’ father, Donald J. Harris, has led a distinguished academic career and made significant contributions to the field of economics. Despite being a naturalized U.S. citizen, he remains connected to his Jamaican heritage and has been recognized for his work in Jamaica’s economic development.
**Frequently Asked Questions**
Q: What is Kamala Harris’ father’s name?
A: Donald J. Harris
Q: Where was Donald Harris born?
A: Brown’s Town, Saint Ann Parish, Jamaica
Q: What is Donald Harris’ academic background?
A: He has a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of London and a PhD from the University of California, Berkeley.
Q: What is Donald Harris’ profession?
A: He is a professor of economics.
Q: How has Donald Harris been involved in Jamaica’s economic development?
A: He has advised successive governments and contributed to major policy frameworks, including the National Industrial Policy (1996) and the Growth Inducement Strategy (2011).
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