President Joe Biden’s announcement on Sunday that he’s ending his reelection marketing campaign and endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris for the Oval Workplace sparked a scramble within the Democratic Occasion. It additionally unleashed a brand new wave of memes of the vice chairman, notably one a couple of coconut tree. 

However what does a coconut tree must do with Harris? 

It goes again to Might 10, 2023. That day, Harris spoke at a swearing-in ceremony of commissioners for an initiative centered on increasing instructional alternatives for Hispanic and Latino People. Throughout the occasion, Harris mentioned the significance of funneling sources in order that youngsters in these demographics know “that they will aspire, they’ve ambition, and so they obtain all of their God-given potential.” 

Harris mentioned making that occur is just doable by specializing in establishing fairness. 

“So many people have come from actions that have been in regards to the struggle for equality,” she mentioned on the time. “We additionally perceive there is a distinction between equality and fairness.” 

The latter of the 2 phrases, she defined, signifies that “not all people begins out on the identical base.” 

“Should you’re giving all people an equal quantity however they’re beginning out on totally different bases, are they actually going to have the chance to compete and obtain?” she requested. “… And it is not simply merely about monetary sources; that could be a very huge a part of it. However it’s additionally about: What’s the tradition of the setting? How are we approaching this subject in a approach that we additionally perceive we can not assist and assist our younger individuals if we … do not additionally take a look at the context by which these younger individuals stay and are being raised?” 

That is the place the coconut tree is available in.

“None of us simply stay in a silo. The whole lot is in context,” she continued. “My mom used to — she would give us a tough time typically — and he or she would say to us, ‘I do not know what’s fallacious with you younger individuals. You suppose you simply fell out of a coconut tree?’ You exist within the context of all by which you reside and what got here earlier than you.” 

As TikTok creator Isvari Maranwe defined, “You possibly can be two youngsters, work equally exhausting, but when somebody comes from a background that’s a lot tougher, they will have a tougher time making it.”

“You come from a background within the context of the household and have alternatives in these which may be totally different from different individuals,” she mentioned.

For instance, a 2023 research launched by ECMC Group and VICE Media Group discovered that of greater than 1,000 low-income, first-generation and BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and other people of colour) highschool college students, simply 8% really feel absolutely ready of their post-high faculty plans. And when requested about their high wants in making a choice, a couple of third listed needing to feed themselves, protected housing or a capability to handle themselves bodily. Greater than half have been uncertain of how they may pay for school. 

Disparities prolong past training. There are well-documented and researched disparities in well being care, housing, revenue, wholesome meals entry and extra. 

The White Home put out a reality sheet final week outlining new actions to assist broaden alternatives for Latino communities, together with establishing the White Home Initiative on Advancing Instructional Fairness, Excellence, and Financial Alternative via Hispanic-Serving Establishments, a brand new immigration course of and providers initiatives. 

As Harris refocuses her targets within the days forward on getting the Democratic nomination for the presidential election in November, her marketing campaign is channeling the significant coconut meme — and others — to pave the highway forward. 

“Offering context,” the official fast response web page for Harris’ marketing campaign says in its bio on X.