Ever since there was talk about Vice President Kamala Harris potentially taking over President Biden’s place at the head of the Democratic ticket, there has been a negative buzz on the right. The New York Post published a piece saying Harris would be a “D.E.I. president,” and this idea quickly spread through conservative media outlets. The mention of diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, which aim to bring individuals from underrepresented backgrounds into positions of power, seemed to suggest that a Black woman only gained power due to racial preferences. In this narrative, Black success is always seen as unearned and handed out without considering merit.
When listening to JD Vance’s speech at the Republican convention, where he talked about his incredible life story – a young man from an economically struggling area who rose to the top of American society – I couldn’t help but compare him to Harris. If Harris is seen as a D.E.I. candidate, then Vance is one too, depending on the type of diversity you are looking at. It all comes down to how you view the role of identity in shaping the opportunities that define someone’s life.
In politics, at its core, identity plays a crucial role – whether it’s the identity of a candidate, a demographic group, a political party, or a region of the country. For presidential and vice-presidential candidates today, one of their most valuable assets is their life story. Some parts of that story are inherited, but what sets successful politicians apart is their ability to tell that story in a way that allows voters to see themselves and their own dreams reflected in the candidate. This kind of storytelling, rooted in American ideals, has had a significant impact on our politics.
Vance’s entire career has been shaped by his life story, which is tied to identities he didn’t choose. Born into poverty in a “hillbilly” family of Scottish-Irish descent, raised by a single, drug-addicted mother, overcoming these challenges forms the core of his personal narrative. His rise to success wouldn’t be as remarkable if he had come from a life of middle-class comfort. However, no one is framing Vance’s journey to the Republican ticket as a result of illegitimate identity politics, nor is he seen as benefiting from political affirmative action.
But in reality, he likely did. Race is not the only form of diversity that is recognized and celebrated. Elite institutions admire self-made Americans, and that is a central theme in Vance’s life story. A promising white candidate from a county with few elite college attendees, like Yale, would likely stand out, even if their academic performance was not as impressive as other applicants. Applicants from working-class backgrounds, especially those who are the first in their family to pursue higher education, are seen as adding class diversity, regardless of race.
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