Kamala Harris is the United States Vice President. Most people are familiar with her story. But not everyone is aware of her family background. One significant figure in her lineage is her grandfather, Oscar Joseph Harris.
Quick Facts About Oscar Joseph Harris
| Full Name | Oscar Joseph Harris |
| Birthdate | April 5, 1914 |
| Occupation | Likely involved in farming or landholding |
| Husband/Wife | Beryl Christie Harris |
| Grandchildren | Kamala Harris, Maya Harris |
| Age at Death | 62 years old |
| Date of Death | August 31, 1976 |
| Place of Death | Public General Hospital, Spanish Town, Jamaica |
| Parents | Joseph Alexander Harris and Christiana “Chrishy” Brown |
| Siblings | Newton Harris (known brother) |
| Children | Donald Harris (Kamala Harris’s father) |
| Net Worth | <$1 million |
Early Life in Jamaica
Oscar Joseph Harris was born on April 5, 1914, in Brown’s Town, Jamaica. His birth name was Oscar Wilde Brown. He was born to Christiana “Chrishy” Brown and Joseph Alexander Harris.
Oscar’s mother, Christiana, had a very unique family history. She was said to be a direct descendant of Hamilton Brown, a plantation owner who assisted in the establishment of Brown’s Town. This aspect of the story reveals the rich historical roots of Jamaica.
Oscar grew up in a Jamaican family proud of their identity. Times weren’t easy then in Jamaica, but Oscar lived with strong ethics and a social sense.
A New Name
At the age of 36, Oscar decided to make some significant changes. On December 12, 1950, he legally altered his last name from Brown to Harris. That was his father’s name.
Why did this? We’re not certain, but it’s believed by many that he felt the need to continue his family name. He did this within two years of getting married. Perhaps this enabled him to have a better relationship with his heritage.
Marriage and Family
In 1952, Oscar wedded Beryl Christie Harris. She was born in 1927 and survived up to 2019. The wedding certificate also named Oscar’s brother, Newton Harris, as Kamala Harris’s great-uncle.
Oscar and Iris had children, among them their son Donald J. Harris. Donald was born in 1938 and subsequently moved to the United States. He was a renowned economist and taught at Stanford University. He is Kamala Harris’s father.
Career and Way of Life
Not much is known about Oscar’s occupation or professional life. There are reports stating that he was a landholder and engaged in agriculture. He assisted in the maintenance of family land and took care of his family.
But even though we don’t know a lot about his career, we do know that he assisted in raising a family that placed an emphasis on learning and culture. His son Donald has repeatedly stated that Jamaican traditions and ideas played a significant role in his life.
Oscar passed these values down to his children. And now they continue to live on through his granddaughter, Kamala Harris.
His Death and Legacy
Oscar Joseph Harris passed away on August 31, 1976, at the age of 62. He passed away at the Public General Hospital in Spanish Town, Jamaica.
Kamala was just a little girl then. She probably didn’t get to know him much. But his tale is still a part of her history.
Although he lived miles away from the U.S., Oscar’s life influenced an American leader to come. His decisions, such as renaming himself and having a solid family, are just a couple of the reasons Kamala’s tale is so strong.
READ ALSO: Kamala Harris Net worth, Age, Husband, Family, Facts & More
Why His Story is Important
Oscar’s story illustrates how far and deep family history can reach. From Jamaica village to the White House doorstep, his family has traveled a long way.
Oscar Joseph Harris is not well known. But he is an important part of Kamala Harris’s story. His narrative ties in with issues such as heritage, identity, and pride.
He reminds us that there are stories in every family worth hearing. And occasionally, they help to make history.
