Inside The Barbershop: Black Men Discuss Voting And The Difference Between Presidential Candidates

The Harris campaign hosted a candid roundtable discussion at Faheem's Hands of Precision barbershop in Philadelphia to discuss politics, progress and the power of the Black vote in America.

The barbershop, long considered the Black man's sanctuary for unfiltered dialogue, lived up to its reputation as participants shared their thoughts on the upcoming presidential election and the issues affecting their community. Among them was a professional boxer who hadn't cast a ballot in 12 years, wrestling with disillusionment and the weight of civic responsibility.

"I'm trying to figure out if I actually want to be a part of it as far as voting because I feel like it's a bunch of things a lot of people didn't do," Stanley shared. His hesitation and sentiment have been echoed by many in the Black community. But as the conversation continued, personal stories began to reshape perspectives.

Anton, a ward leader, spoke about his 56-year-old mother who "walks with a limp," bringing up the political debate about retirement age into focus. "My mom can't work another 20 years," he stated, sharing that he is removing himself out of the equation and focusing on the needs of the people closest to him.

Anton also shared a story about his grandmother's smile when she received affordable prescription drugs. "I may not ever have that moment again," he reflected, "But seeing that and hearing that from your grandmother, I said, I know who I'm voting for. My grandma never steered me wrong in my life."

The discussion turned to healthcare, a critical issue for many in the room. The group discussed the Affordable Care Act's impact on their community, with Quentin Fulks, Principal Deputy Campaign Manager for Harris For President, noting that during the previous administration, "200,000 African-Americans lost health insurance."

The gentlemen continued their conversation and discussed everything from entitlement programs that "helped us out" to the importance of protecting progress already made.

Check out the full clip.