Mindy Kaling Jokes About Kamala Harris' Indian Heritage at DNC

The NPR Network is set to provide live coverage from Chicago this week, focusing on the Democratic National Convention. Among the notable speakers is actress Mindy Kaling, who humorously addressed the audience by referencing her connection to Vice President Kamala Harris. Kaling jokingly claimed to have "outed" Harris as Indian during a cooking demonstration on Instagram, highlighting their shared Indian heritage. Kaling reminisced about her first encounter with Harris, which took place years ago when Harris was serving as a U.S. senator from California. The two bonded over their experiences as daughters of immigrant mothers who dedicated their lives to helping others. Kaling's mother was an OB-GYN, while Harris' mother was a cancer research scientist. Kaling expressed admiration for Harris' mother, noting the profound impact she had on Harris' commitment to service. The actress's comments come in the wake of former President Donald Trump's racially charged remarks about Harris, suggesting she "happened to turn Black" in recent years. Harris, who attended Howard University, has openly discussed her identity as a Black and South Asian woman. Additionally, Trump and his supporters have faced criticism for mispronouncing Harris' name, which means "lotus flower" in Sanskrit. Kaling's lighthearted anecdotes serve to underscore the importance of representation and the shared experiences of women of color in politics and entertainment.