In Washington, Vice President Kamala Harris has unveiled an initiative aimed at increasing economic opportunities and overall well-being for Black men, in an effort to galvanize a crucial voting demographic that Democrats are anxious about regarding their enthusiasm for the upcoming elections.
Harris’ proposal encompasses various measures, including the provision of forgivable business loans targeted at Black entrepreneurs, the establishment of more apprenticeship programs, and the investigation into sickle cell disease along with other health conditions that significantly impact African American men.
The Vice President has previously expressed her support for the legalization of marijuana, and part of her strategy includes ensuring that Black men have access to opportunities in the burgeoning national cannabis market. Additionally, she advocates for stricter regulations on cryptocurrency to safeguard Black individuals and others who invest in digital currencies.
This initiative, dubbed the “opportunity agenda for Black men,” aims to engage African American males at a pivotal time, addressing concerns that some may opt-out of the electoral process instead of casting their votes for either Harris or her competitor, former President Donald Trump.
Harris announced the plan on a recent Monday, just before her scheduled campaign rally in Erie, Pennsylvania, where she shared the stage with Democratic Senator John Fetterman. This push comes in the wake of remarks from former President Barack Obama, who noted that some Black men might be hesitant about supporting a female candidate for president.
In addition to targeting Black men, Harris’ campaign has also been making efforts to strengthen support among other male voting groups, such as Hispanics, by creating a collective named “Hombres con Harris,” meaning “Men with Harris.” This latest policy announcement is particularly significant as it aims to inspire Black men to participate in the elections just weeks before they occur.
Similar to initiatives for the Hispanic demographic, Harris’ team plans to host events specifically for Black men, including “Black Men Huddle Up” gatherings in key states, featuring figures from the African American community to engage participants in activities such as watching NFL and NCAA football games. Furthermore, the campaign intends to launch testimonial advertisements in battleground regions, highlighting local Black male voices.
Cedric Richmond, a co-chair of Harris’ campaign and former congressman from Louisiana, emphasized Harris’ commitment to establishing an economy that empowers Black men with the necessary resources to succeed, such as homeownership, family support, business ventures, and wealth accumulation.
Historically, Black Americans significantly backed Joe Biden during his 2020 campaign against Trump. Advisors for Harris express more concern over the potential for some Black men to abstain from voting entirely, rather than losing a substantial number of votes to Trump.
In response, Trump has also intensified efforts to engage Black and Hispanic voters across demographics, hosting discussions with Black entrepreneurs in pivotal states and participating in a town hall event with Univision, a Spanish-language news network. Additionally, he has been accused of using his platform to foster racial divisions by insinuating that immigrants illegally entering the U.S. are adversely affecting job opportunities for Black and Hispanic citizens.
As part of her newly announced proposals, Harris intends to facilitate the distribution of one million loans, each up to $20,000, that can be fully forgiven for Black entrepreneurs with promising business concepts. This financial aid is set to be issued through collaborations among the Small Business Administration, community leaders, and financial institutions committed to serving their local areas.
Furthermore, Harris is advocating for federal incentives to motivate more African American males to pursue careers in education, pointing out that Black males represented just over 1% of public school teachers during the 2020-21 academic year. To bolster this, she proposes to enhance existing federal programs designed to forgive certain educational loans for individuals in public service to attract more Black male educators into the workforce.
Her strategies also involve partnerships with organizations such as the National Urban League, local administrations, and private enterprises to broaden apprenticeship and certification opportunities within Black communities.
Advisors have encouraged Harris to focus more on cryptocurrency to connect with male voters, leading to her commitment to support regulatory measures aimed at enhancing investor protection in cryptocurrency and other digital assets, which have gained popularity among Black men.
Lastly, she has pledged to establish a national program dedicated to improving funding for the detection, research, and treatment of sickle cell disease, diabetes, prostate cancer, mental health issues, and other health challenges that particularly affect Black men.
A recent survey by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research indicated that approximately 70% of Black voters hold a favorable opinion of Harris and prefer her leadership over that of Trump on essential policy matters, including economy, healthcare, and immigration. Support for Harris appears equally strong among both Black men and women.