White supremacy is a belief system based on the idea that ppl of color, esp Black ppl, are fundamentally illegitimate as equal citizens or human beings.

Calling into question the citizenship of elected officials of color, esp when the answer is obvious, is one way it manifests.

Whether it’s “where’s the birth certificate?” to “send her back!” to “where were her parents from?”- these contrived claims (which are almost never levied at white US officials born abroad) catch on bc the supremacist idea that poc are inherently less legitimate has deep roots.

It’s not a coincidence that the GOP advanced tropes about non-citizenship to President Obama, Reps. Tlaib, Omar & Pressley, & now Sen. Kamala Harris; especially in moments of power.

Implying poc “don’t belong” in our country is one way of protecting a white supremacist vision.