Kamala Harris Unveils New Plan To Empower Black Men

Recent polls suggest that some Black men are gravitating toward Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump.

On Thursday, during a Harris/Walz rally in Pittsburgh, former President Barack Obama was frank when addressing Black men who may want to vote for Trump because they do not want to support a woman.

“Because part of it makes me think - and I’m speaking to men directly - part of it makes me think that, well, you just aren’t feeling the idea of having a woman as president, and you’re coming up with other alternatives and other reasons for that,” Obama said while on stage.

Today, Vice President Kamala Harris has announced an "Opportunity Agenda" to address longstanding economic and social challenges Black men face in America.

The plan draws on insights from Harris' nationwide Economic Opportunity Tour and proposes several bold initiatives to promote wealth creation, education, health equity and criminal justice reform.

Key elements of the agenda include:

1. Economic Empowerment: Harris proposes providing 1 million fully forgivable loans of up to $20,000 to Black entrepreneurs and others who have historically faced barriers to starting or growing businesses.
   

2. Education and Career Pathways: The plan includes expanding pathways for Black men to access good-paying jobs, with or without college degrees. It also aims to increase the number of Black male teachers through collaborations with Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs).
   

3. Health Equity: Harris calls for launching a National Health Equity Initiative focused on Black Men, addressing issues like sickle cell disease, diabetes, mental health and prostate cancer that disproportionately impact this demographic.
   

4. Criminal Justice Reform: The agenda proposes legalizing recreational marijuana at the federal level and creating opportunities for Black Americans to succeed in this new industry. It also includes support for community violence intervention programs and police reforms.
   

5. Voting Rights Protection: Harris pledges to fight for voting rights legislation to combat racial voter suppression and modernize elections.
   

The Vice President's plan also addresses other key issues such as lowering housing costs, reducing medical debt and protecting access to affordable healthcare.

Harris' agenda is a stark contrast to the policies of Trump's administration, which her campaign argues led to job losses and increased economic hardship for Black communities. The Vice President positions her plan as a comprehensive approach to providing Black men with the tools and opportunities to build wealth, support their families, and lead in their communities.

As the 2024 election approaches, this "Opportunity Agenda" represents a significant policy platform to address longstanding inequities and garner support from Black male voters, a crucial demographic in many key states.