Jamaican roots in high-level American politics

THE EDITOR, Madam:

Kamala Harris is the first female and first person of Jamaican descent who became vice-president of the US. George Mifflin Dallas (1792-1864) was of Jamaican descent, and a supporter of American expansion by way of seizing Mexican lands. The city of Dallas was named after him. Dallas was a leading American politician and diplomat. He was born in Pennsylvania and like his father, Alexander James Dallas, he studied law and entered into political service. The Dallas family, led by Robert Dallas, owned in Port Royal (now St Andrew): over 900 acres with nearly 100 slaves. His father, a lawyer (he may have studied in Scotland), was one of the sons of Robert Dallas and migrated to the newly independent America in 1783. America was in flux and immigrants like Thomas Paine and Alexander J. Dallas – the former made critical contribution to the American War of Independence and the latter in Philadelphia,with his son – made sterling contribution to the politics of the emerging power.

President James Madison appointed Dallas secretary of the Treasury. His son, George, who studied at what we know now as Princeton, had early political experience in Treasury and banking. In his early political experience, he became mayor of Philadelphia (1828-1829) and later he became a senator, representing Pennsylvania (1832-1833). He was appointed by President Martin van Buren as US minister Russia (1837-1839); and by another administration as US minister to the United Kingdom (1856-1861).

Dallas entered into the 1844 US presidential elections, but dropped out because his popularity diminished in his home state on issues concerning tariff. He became the vice- president to the 11th president of the US, James K. Polk (1845-1849).

Colin Powell (1937-2021), of Jamaican descent, became a senior American military leader and politician. He was born in Harlem of Jamaican parents. His parents were from St Elizabeth. He was educated at City College of New York, entered into the US military and co-opted into politics:

- From 1988-1989 he acted as national security adviser to President Ronald Reagan;

- In 1989 he was promoted to the rank of general;

- Appointed by George H.W. Bush to the position of joint chiefs of staff; and

- From 2000-2004, he was appointed by George W. Bush as secretary of state.

And now, there is Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee for the 2024 US presidential elections. Her father’s family roots are in St Ann, Jamaica.

LOUIS MOYSTON