Having missed the reference, we appreciated this—attempted—explainer on the memes again in circulation after Joe Biden’s endorsement of Kamala Harris via Miss Cellania. Adopted by supporters of her bid to express enthusiasm, it originates from a set of remarks given by Harris back in May of 2023 at the swearing-in ceremony for a group of commissioners tasked with improving economic and educational outcomes for Hispanic communities:
“Everything is in context… My mother—would give us a hard time sometimes, and she would say, ‘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.”
Formerly the gauge of a president’s relatability, likability was whether or not you could enjoy a beer with them (or at least if their taste and style of eating wasn’t off-kilter) but now it seems memeification (see also) speaks to that question and will continue to inform the campaign. More from NPR at the link above including a round up of other viral moments.
“I can imagine what can be, unburdened by what has been.”
