Professor Michael Eric Dyson and Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) engaged in a heated debate during a CNN panel on Friday, Aug. 16, 2024 after Dyson called out Mace for her intentional mispronunciation of Vice President Kamala Harris' first name. (Source: Screenshot - CNN)

Congresswoman claims racism after professor calls out her mispronunciation of ‘Kamala’

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A CNN panel discussion on Friday about former President Donald Trump’s campaign performance took a dramatic turn after a congresswoman intentionally mispronounced presidential candidate Kamala Harris’ first name.

During the discussion, which debated Vice President Harris’ rhetoric compared to Trump on the campaign trail, Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) repeatedly mispronounced Harris’ first name. Panelists Keith Boykin, a Democratic campaign strategist, and Professor Michael Eric Dyson get visibly uncomfortable after Mace repeats the mispronunciation, and reminded Mace how it should be pronounced.

Dyson told Mace she was being disrespectful and that white people have a tradition of not respecting Black people after the congresswoman — who supports Trump — refused to state Harris’ first name correctly.

Mace immediately took offense and then accused of Dyson of calling her a racist, which she said was “disgusting.”

Dyson explained to Mace that her attitude and disregard for showing respect for Harris by pronouncing her name correctly is an example of racist intent.

Watch the full heated exchange between Mace and Dyson here.

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