Kamala Harris, a prominent figure in contemporary American politics, frequently employs the phrase “what can be, unburdened by what has been.” This mantra has become so characteristic of her discourse that it has garnered significant attention, even inspiring compilations on platforms like YouTube and earning its own entry on Wikipedia. Beyond this signature phrase, Harris often articulates a belief in “the significance of the passage of time” and expresses a deep respect for “the women who made history throughout history.”
Since becoming the presumptive nominee, Harris has injected a renewed vigor into the Democratic party. Her appeal extends beyond her relative youth compared to President Biden; she possesses a distinctive stump speech style that incorporates metaphor and a contemporary vernacular, resonating particularly within meme culture and drawing comparisons to Julia Louis-Dreyfus’s portrayal of Selina Meyer in the satirical political series Veep. While celebrated for her meticulous and articulate speaking style within the Democratic party, Harris also embraces what might be termed “Kamalaisms”—personal anecdotes and philosophical snippets like the famous coconut tree story and the notion of “existing in the context of all in which you live.” These stylistic choices elicit varied reactions, ranging from admiration and satirical appreciation to outright criticism. But what are the foundational elements that shape Harris’s unique mode of expression?
Gevin Reynolds, a former speechwriter for Harris, reveals that some of her most memorable phrases, including the coconut tree anecdote and her assertion as “the first but not the last” female vice-president, are rooted in the wisdom of her late mother, Shyamala Gopalan Harris, a distinguished biomedical scientist.
Reynolds explains, “While her mother has passed away, the vice-president has kept her memory alive through sharing her words of wisdom to the world. Every speaker has their favorite ‘fallback’ quotes. Most times, they’re corny and cliche. But the vice-president repeats her iconic phrases because they speak powerfully on so many occasions, not to mention they are so uniquely her.”
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Reynolds humbly declines credit for Harris’s rhetorical successes, stating, “I can’t take credit for any of Harris’s greatest hits. I imagine she has used many of them throughout her long career in public service, going back to her California days. However, I got the chance to hear the kind of incisive questions she asks and comments she makes. She approaches every set of remarks like a prosecutor, attempting to assemble the facts of a case into a clear and compelling narrative.”
Beth Blum, an associate professor of humanities at Harvard University specializing in wellness literature history, connects Harris’s ethos, particularly the “unburdened by what has been” quote, to Eckhart Tolle’s influential 1997 book, The Power of Now. This Oprah-endorsed self-help guide, a global bestseller, champions a philosophy of present moment awareness.
Blum elaborates, “This self-help doctrine – which actually dates back to antiquity – grows out of an effort to empower individuals to not be determined by their circumstances. This phrase is just vaguely affirmative enough to reassure multiple demographics.”
Harris is not alone in drawing from self-help rhetoric within the political arena. Donald Trump’s upbringing included exposure to Norman Vincent Peale’s positive thinking sermons, and he continues to echo Peale’s optimistic mantras. Marianne Williamson’s career as a new-age spiritual guide led to her role as Oprah’s “spiritual adviser.” Robert F Kennedy Jr.’s association with Tony Robbins, whom he considered as a running mate, further illustrates this trend. “Harris’s connections to self-help are subtler than these other candidates, and yet she finds herself the target of more memes aimed at exposing her reliance on such self-help rhetoric,” Blum observes. “At this point, self-help rhetoric and American politics are fatefully entwined.”
As the first Black and South Asian vice-president, Harris confronts a barrage of online attacks rooted in racism and sexism, with some critics misrepresenting her speaking style. However, in contrast to instances of Joe Biden’s public speaking stumbles, Harris’s passionate and teleprompter-free addresses at recent events have energized her supporters.
Blum concludes that Harris’s consistent repetition of “what can be, unburdened by what has been” reflects the performative nature of her role: “It hints at the performative demands of her position. One marvels at her ability to utter this phrase with such verve and conviction time and time again, as if she is inventing it for the first time.” Indeed, in her political persona and message, Kamala Harris embodies the principle of being unburdened by what has been.
