Detroit Organizer Advocates for Economic Change, Voter Activation In Michigan

One Black man in Michigan is using his influence to support the Black community's growth. He is actively encouraging people to vote for the presidential candidate who aligns best with his cause, aiming to amplify his efforts even further.

Hurley Coleman of Detroit, the founder of a civic organization, uses his platform to support low-income and elderly residents in Saginaw, Michigan. According to abcnews.go.com, he provides essential resources like food and housing assistance, along with fulfilling many other civic duties.

Hurley Coleman III, executive director of the Saginaw County Community Action Center, discussed economic challenges with ABC News' Nightline, stating, "Some of the things that have plagued us are the lack of good jobs, the ones that can take care of a family."

Coleman uses this data and compares it to the situation America is in. Yes, the U.S. unemployment rate is 4%, dropping to historic lows. But Black unemployment in Michigan is close to 50% higher than the national average, sitting over 6.1%, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

“My concern personally is our Black community and our men and our women, being able to have the opportunity to go into homes, financial literacy, education, opportunities to advance,” Coleman said.

In this county, one that is 45% Black, according to the U.S. Census, voters have gauged both parties in recent elections to potentially change all of this for the better.

You see, back in 2008 and 2012, Saginaw voted for former President Barack Obama. Trump went on to win the county in 2016, while Biden took a close victory in 2020 by 303 votes.

Saginaw is a pivotal county for a battleground such as Michigan, which is a key state needed to win the Presidential election.

The Biden and Trump campaigns have made stops in Saginaw to focus on “making sharp contrasts to one another in their vision for rebuilding the economy.”

“I’m going to turn it around. I’ll bring you the car industry back to Michigan,” Trump said to voters during a campaign stop on May 1.

Biden did meet with Coleman amid his visit to Saginaw on March 14.

“We talked about inflation and what it feels like to go to the grocery store. To pull out $25 and figure out how far that $25 can stretch,” Coleman told “Nightline.”

“I believe in what President Biden is trying to accomplish and I will be standing with him,” Coleman added.