Key Takeaways
- Despite no family ties, both women are influential Black figures in their respective fields.
- Washington’s special guests at the DNC were Kamala Harris’s great-nieces, Amara and Leela Ajagu.
- Tim Walz, Harris’s running mate, was observed finding the demonstration “cute.”
Kerry Washington, the actress, is not related to Kamala Harris, the attorney and politician. They do not share family ties.
While they aren’t blood relatives, Kerry and Kamala are connected as trailblazing Black women in their fields.
In 2012, Washington made history by portraying Olivia Pope in “Scandal,” making her the first Black woman to lead a major network show on ABC.
Washington and Harris may not share a traditional family bond, but their path has intersected before.
Harris highlighted Washington’s visit to the White House on Facebook, where she posted a photo with the caption:
Welcome back to the White House, Kerry Washington.
Kerry Washington is widely known for her roles in “Confirmation,” “Little Fires Everywhere,” “The Last King of Scotland,” and “Unprisoned,” among others.
Kamala Harris, in contrast, has been the 49th vice president of the United States since 2021, serving with President Joe Biden.
How Kerry Washington And Harris’s Great-Nieces Correctly Pronounced the VP’s Name
During the Democratic National Convention (DNC) on Thursday night, August 22, 2022, host Kerry, 47, joined Kamala Harris’ grand-nieces, Amara and Leela Ajagu, to address how to pronounce the Vice President’s name correctly.
In support of Harris, 59, Washington stated:
It’s come to my attention that there are some folks who struggle, or pretend to struggle, with the proper pronunciation of our future president’s name. So hear me out: Confusion is understandable. Disrespect is not.
As the audience applauded, she paused and then said she would “help everyone get it right.”
“Here to help me are some very special guests,” she said while two little girls appeared on stage – one dressed in a pastel pink pantsuit and the other in a baby blue dress.
The girls introduced themselves as Amara Ajagu and her “little sister” Leela Ajagu, who are Harris’ great-nieces. They were at the DNC “to teach you how to say our auntie’s name,” they said.
According to Amara, the first part of Harris’ name should be pronounced “comma, like a comma in a sentence.”
Leela then added that the second part sounds like “luh,” similar to singing a scale. The audience responded with applause.
To align with the sisters’ height, Washington knelt down. “Put it together and you get — ” she paused for the girls to say together: “Kamala!”
The actress encouraged everyone to unite and practice saying Harris’ name correctly with the girls’ assistance.
The group nearest Amara said, “Comma,” and the group closest to Leela said, “Luh.”
As the audience chanted “Comma-Luh” several times, Washington said, “for president!” Tim Walz, Harris’ running mate, was seen mouthing “how cute” to those beside him.
Although Washington didn’t single out any individual, Republican Rep. Nancy Mace made news last week for her repeated mispronunciations of Harris’ first name on CNN.
In addition, Donald Trump has continuously and intentionally mispronounced Vice President Kamala Harris’s name.
Kerry, who came with her nieces, is not connected to Kamala Harris by blood.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Kerry Washington, born January 31, 1977, is the daughter of Valerie, a professor and educational consultant, and Earl Washington, a real estate broker.
- She earned her degree from George Washington University in 1998.
- As the spouse of former NFL cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha, she has two children, Isabelle and Caleb.
