Wikipedia

You think you just fell out of a coconut tree?

In May 2023, Vice President Kamala Harris delivered remarks, including the sentence "You think you just fell out of a coconut tree?", at a White House swearing-in ceremony for the commissioners of a Hispanic and Latino education initiative.[1] Footage from the speech attracted attention beginning February 2024, but it began circulating more widely in June, after a poorly received debate performance by President Joe Biden led to speculation that he might withdraw from his re-election campaign. His ultimate decision to do so and subsequent endorsement of Harris as nominee intensified use of the "coconut tree" meme in reference to Harris, including by state and federal officials.[2][3]

a sign reading "BE WARE OF FALLING COCONUTS"
Vice President Kamala Harris' admonishment not to fall out of coconut trees led to symbolism around her 2024 bid for the presidency.

Remarks

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Harris remarks "You think you just fell out of a coconut tree?" at a May 2023 White House swearing-in ceremony.

Harris and Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona attended a May 10, 2023 swearing-in ceremony for the White House Initiative on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence, and Economic Opportunity for Hispanics in the Indian Treaty Room of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building. Addressing the new commissioners, Harris advised that work to achieve educational equity requires not only mustering financial resources but also addressing the cultural context that isolates students from their communities. Referring to a saying from her late mother Shyamala Gopalan, Harris said:

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.[4][5]

Use online

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Initial social media activity about the remarks, including by Republicans, mocked them as incomprehensible or ludicrous.[6][7] But as speculation about Harris replacing Biden on the Democratic presidential ticket intensified in June 2024, the video was shared largely by her supporters, including members of the KHive online community. The term "coconut-pilled", parodying the redpilled men's rights phenomenon, indicated support for a Harris candidacy among Democratic operatives.[8]

On July 21, after Biden announced in a letter on Twitter that he would not seek re-election, supporters of Harris created memes and videos referencing coconuts and coconut trees as a sign of support for her bid for the nomination.[3] Coconuts and coconut trees have become integrated in a larger series of memes celebrating Harris' candidacy, including her once-professed love of Venn diagrams, the Charli XCX album brat, and Harris' often-employed phrase "what can be, unburdened by what has been."[8][9] In these memes, to "fall out of a coconut tree" typically means that one lacks awareness of one's surroundings, akin to the phrase "living under a rock".[10]

The New York Times reported that enthusiasm for Harris and the coconut tree meme was driving a Washington-area surge in demand for piña coladas.[10]

By elected officials
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Minutes after Biden's announcement, Colorado governor Jared Polis tweeted emoji of a coconut, palm tree and American flag.[11] Later that evening, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz of Hawaii posted a picture of himself climbing a coconut tree along with a message of support.[6] On July 22, after Illinois Governor JB Pritzker endorsed Harris, he responded to journalists speculating about his own presidential ambitions by tweeting, "You think I just fell out of a coconut tree?"[4]

When the Biden campaign Twitter account transitioned to "Kamala HQ" on July 21, the updated profile bio simply read "Providing context", a reference to the remarks.[12]

Criticism

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Commentators noted that use of the coconut tree meme to depict Harris as ditzy may be grounded in sexism or in racist mockery of her Indian and Jamaican heritage, given the tropical symbolism of the coconut tree.[13][14] But as supporters began championing the video, Washington Post columnist Monica Hesse identified that it could aid depictions of the candidate as youthful and feminine, in contrast both to Biden and Republican nominee and former president Donald Trump.[14]

Some Democratic strategists also noted that the coconut tree meme and others were driving augmented enthusiasm for Harris among members of Generation Z, which could potentially translate into an increase in youth voter turnout.[9] Media scholar David Karpf told Business Insider that the Harris campaign's encouragement of internet memes could foster an organic sense of grassroots enthusiasm akin to reception of the Obama 2008 campaign.[15] Vox's Christian Paz speculated that leaning into a goofy attitude could help Harris channel a "joyful warrior" ethos that combats sexist and racist stereotypes.[16]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Cohen, Li (2024-07-22). "What to know about Kamala Harris' viral coconut tree meme: "You exist in the context of all in which you live"". CBS News. Retrieved 2024-07-23.
  2. ^ Javaid, Maham (2024-07-22). "What coconut trees and Charli XCX's 'Brat' have to do with Kamala Harris". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2024-07-23.
  3. ^ a b Kinnard, Meg; Yee, Curtis (2024-07-22). "Harris steps into the limelight. And the coconut trees and memes have followed". AP News. Retrieved 2024-07-23.
  4. ^ a b Vaziri, Aidin (22 July 2024). "How the coconut tree meme became the symbol of support for Kamala Harris". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 22 July 2024.
  5. ^ "Remarks by Vice President Harris at Swearing-In Ceremony of Commissioners for the White House Initiative on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence, and Economic Opportunity for Hispanics". The White House. 2023-05-10. Retrieved 2024-07-23.
  6. ^ a b Lukpat, Alyssa (22 July 2024). "Why Kamala Harris Is Inspiring Coconut Tree Memes". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 22 July 2024.
  7. ^ DeLetter, Emily. "'You think you just fell out of a coconut tree?' Kamala Harris meme resurfaces after Biden drops out". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2024-07-23.
  8. ^ a b Schapitl, Lexie; Treisman, Rachel (22 July 2024). "The Kamala Harris coconut tree meme, explained as best we can". NPR. Retrieved 22 July 2024.
  9. ^ a b Gerber, Dana (22 July 2024). "A breakdown of the biggest Kamala Harris memes, for those who just fell out of a coconut tree". The Boston Globe. Retrieved 2024-07-23.
  10. ^ a b Trebay, Guy (2024-07-20). "Is This the Summer of the Kamala Harris Coconut Meme?". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-07-23.
  11. ^ Lowe, Lindsay (2024-07-22). "Kamala Harris' coconut tree meme has resurfaced — explaining the viral quote". Today. Retrieved 2024-07-23.
  12. ^ Yang, Angela (2024-07-22). "The internet has entered its Kamala Harris 'coconut tree' era". NBC News. Retrieved 2024-07-23.
  13. ^ Roberts, Molly (2024-07-22). "Opinion | Those Kamala Harris 'coconut tree' memes are organic. Handle with care". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2024-07-23.
  14. ^ a b Hesse, Monica (2024-07-03). "Perspective | Kamala Harris and the coconut tree of hope". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2024-07-23.
  15. ^ Bharade, Aditi; Goh, Amanda; Nelken-Zitser, Joshua; Weiss, Geoff (22 July 2024). "Kamala Harris' media strategy right out the gate is young, fun, and unburdened by what has been". Business Insider. Retrieved 2024-07-23.
  16. ^ Paz, Christian (2024-07-03). "Why is everyone talking about Kamala Harris and coconut trees?". Vox. Retrieved 2024-07-23.
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