How do you pronounce Kamala? Her grandnieces explain at the DNC
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Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) β The final night of the Democratic National Convention included a tutorial on pronouncing Kamala Harris’ name β featuring none other than the candidate’s great nieces.
The actress Kerry Washington introduced the girls by saying βit’s come to my attention that there are some folks who struggle β or pretend to struggle β with the proper pronunciation of our future presidentβs name.β
She added, βConfusion is understandable. Disrespect is not. So tonight we are going to help everyone get it right.β
Out came Amara, 8, in a pink pant suit and Leela, 6, in a light blue frilly dress. They’re the daughters of Harris’ niece Meena Harris.
βFirst you say βcommaβ like the comma in a sentence,β Amara said.
“Then you say βlaβ like la-la-la-la-la,” added Leela.
βOK, letβs practice,β Washington said.
Amara pointed stage left and said, βEverybody over here say comma!β
Leela turned to stage right and said, “Everybody over here say la!β
The United Center roared in response β βComma! La!β
Some of the speakers at the Democratic National Convention have stumbled over Harris’ first name, including former President Bill Clinton who said it as βCAM-UH-LAβ in his speech on Wednesday night.
But Republican candidate Donald Trump has relished opportunities to mangle the pronunciation, which Democrats describe as a sign of disrespect.
He usually says βKah-MAH-la.β When asked why, Trump said last month that he had heard Harrisβ first name said βabout seven different ways.β
βI said, βDonβt worry about it, it doesnβt matter what I say,β” Trump said. “I couldnβt care less.β