And what does calling her a coconut even mean? The context of the metaphor was that people aren't like coconuts that just drop from the sky into the world, but that we're the product of our parents, our environs and our upbringing. So calling her a coconut is either A) saying that she did, in fact, just blipped into existence, which.... OK? Or B) calling someone a coconut sounds vaguely insulting in a 3rd-grade-reading-level kind of way, maybe? And maybe you're beating around the bush of calling her a nut/crazy in what you think is a clever and subtle way, but isn't?

Republicans, guys. Not your best work. Maybe give it a bit more thought before you pull out your next big heckle that will be screen printed onto flags, bumper stickers and red hats.

[–] NegativeInf 15 points 5 months ago (1 children)

That's the thing. Originally this video was highlighted by far right accounts as an example of her being crazy. But was coopted by the left after the Biden Trump debate. Coconuts became a symbol of quietly (or very loudly) supporting Kamala as the nominee instead of Biden. And as that solidified, more and more of the online left started to meme on it.

Tbf, I'm pretty coconut pilled now. I needed something to smile about after Joe's debate performance.

[–] gAlienLifeform 11 points 5 months ago (1 children)

America is ready to become unburdened

From the coconut trees to the Venn diagrams, the Harris memes embrace what detractors might consider a gaffe. Trump, for instance, has dubbed Harris "laughing Kamala," saying the laugh makes her seem "crazy."

Take another example, which grew out of one of Harris's go-to lines dating back to her 2020 presidential run: “I can imagine what can be, unburdened by what has been.”

The RNC compiled a supercut of Harris being "unburdened" and shared it on social media, arguing that it shows she is “unoriginal, annoying, and highly incompetent.” But the attacks aren’t sticking, as her supporters have taken ownership of the line and the laughter.

Jennings said it’s reminiscent of the critiques hurled at Trump throughout his political career, only to be welcomed by his base.

“People like the fact that he was saying offensive things,” Jennings said. "And I think it's strange for Republicans to kind of now be on the other end of that – which is making all these, you know, memes and videos of Kamala being goofy and quirky and the left being like, “Hell, yeah, brother.”

[–] TotallynotJessica 6 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Honestly, she's won my vote. Fuck anyone who challenges her at the convention. I voted for the Biden/Harris ticket knowing she would take over if needed. There are no clearly better challengers, as most of the better options have endorsed her. It's essential that we unify and focus, because this race will not be easy. There will be gaffs and unfair criticisms that actually stick, but it's important to remember that Trump is as bad as it realistically gets. He isn't run of the mill, and people who think he is haven't been paying attention.

She wasn't my first choice in 2020, but unlike Biden, she wasn't one of my last. The only ones worse than Biden were billionaires.

[–] gAlienLifeform 4 points 5 months ago

She wasn't my first choice in 2020, but unlike Biden, she wasn't one of my last. The only ones worse than Biden were billionaires.

100% agree, when Biden won the primaries in 2020 I had to keep talking myself "well, at least it's not Bloomberg"

Kamala's far from perfect, but on policy stuff in every way I can think of she's no worse than Biden and might just be a little bit better, and on a superficial style level she's a breath of fresh air after four years of "my grandpa can beat up your grandpa"

[–] roguetrick 10 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago) (1 children)

It's very strange for me, because the last time I've heard someone called a coconut it was a racist term. Like Oreo. Someone who's brown skinned acting like they're white. It's very derogatory.

[–] Orbituary 1 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Never heard that one.

[–] Jiggle_Physics 2 points 5 months ago

There is also banana and apple, yellow/red on the outside, white on the inside.

[–] NevermindNoMind 3 points 5 months ago

https://www.vox.com/kamala-harris/359072/kamala-harris-coconut-tree-context-unburden-meme-khive

I have been catching up on Kamala memes. Here's the coconut context:

When the vice president referred to her mom’s question about falling out of a coconut tree, she was recounting a lesson about the importance of history. Speaking to government appointees who would work on economic and education equity for Hispanic Americans, she emphasized that their task would be to aid not only young people, but also their parents, grandparents, teachers, and communities, “because none of us just live in a silo. Everything is in context.”

And she continued:

“My mother used to — she would give us a hard time sometimes, and she would say to us, ‘I don’t know what’s wrong with you young people. You think you just fell out of a coconut tree?’

You exist in the context of all in which you live and what came before you.”

Now, the takeaway is clear enough, something that’s been said for centuries: No person is an island.

But it was her delivery that turned it into a meme: in a joking voice, with exaggerated hand and arm gestures, and with a signature Kamala Harris laugh.

At the time, social media users and right-wing accounts accused her of behaving strangely: “Obviously drunk,” one viral tweet said, while others used clips of the speech to describe being intoxicated or inebriated (which itself is another Harris meme).

[–] KillerTofu 2 points 5 months ago

Coconut is sometimes used as a pejorative that she may look brown but is white inside.

I think it’s more likely a racial pejorative inferring that she’s a monkey, a common racist characterization of black people.

But also, she shared the story from someone in her family who used the metaphor about dropping out of a tree.