Vice President Harris Launch a new agenda aimed at increasing financial and career opportunities for black men.
Former President Obama, in comments that went viral, warned black male voters about their lack of enthusiasm in supporting Harris, just four days after the Harris campaign's “Black Male Opportunity Agenda” was released on Monday. Obama's comments came as polls indicated former President Trump winning with black men, who have traditionally been the Democratic Party's most reliable supporters.
The Harris campaign, with just three weeks until Election Day, hopes to shine a light on its agenda to help black men gain “an opportunity to advance, to thrive,” by giving them the tools to achieve financial independence, better provide for themselves and their families at lower costs. costs and protect rights.”
Obama, baffled by Harris, repeatedly took aim at Trump
Democratic presidential candidate Vice President Harris speaks during a campaign rally at East Carolina University on October 13, 2024 in Greenville, NC. (AP Photo/David Yeazle)
Proposals include providing $1 million in fully forgivable loans to Black entrepreneurs and others to start a business, advocating for education, training and mentoring programs that help Black men get high-paying jobs in high-demand industries and to become teachers to lead their communities.
A regulatory framework to protect Black men's investment in cryptocurrencies and other digital assets is also highlighted by the campaign, a health equity initiative focused on Black men dealing with sickle cell disease, diabetes, mental health, prostate cancer and other health challenges. health that affect them. and creating opportunities for Black Americans in the recreational marijuana industry.
Pro-Trump black group fires shots at Obama
Former Louisiana Rep. Cedric Richmond, national vice chairman of the Harris campaign, said the goal of the new agenda is to “equip Black men with the tools to thrive: buy a home, provide for our families, start a business and build wealth”.
“Donald Trump doesn’t care about equipping hard-working Americans with the tools they need to get ahead,” Richmond said. “While Vice President Harris promises to equip black men with the tools they need to pursue our dreams and aspirations, Donald Trump promises a national nightmare for black people in America.”
Republican presidential candidate and former President Trump is shown at a rally in Coachella, California, on October 12, 2024. (Reuters/Mike Blake)
To help spread the message, Harris' campaign said it is teaming up with Black celebrities, influencers and battlefield key workers this week for a “Black Men Huddle Up” event. The campaign highlights that it is garnering the support of influential businesspeople for a series of “Conversations on Economic Freedom” with black businesspeople.
The new effort comes as Democrats worry about the overwhelming support among black men, and especially young black men, for Harris, who would make history if she were elected the nation's first female president.
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Harris and Trump are locked in tight races in seven key states, with razor-thin margins that decided President Biden's 2020 election victory over Trump and will likely determine the winner of the 2024 White House race. black people, and especially among black men, could cost the vice president dearly.
Obama's speech on Thursday At Harris' campaign office in Pittsburgh, he recalled the wave of support among black voters that propelled him into history in 2008, becoming the country's first black president. He said vaguely that he doesn't understand why Harris doesn't enjoy the same level of enthusiasm, noting that the dilemma is “more pronounced with siblings.”
Former President Obama speaks during a campaign rally in support of Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris on October 10, 2024 in Pittsburgh. (Reuters/Quinn Glabicki)
“You keep coming up with all kinds of reasons and excuses,” Obama said. “I have a problem with that.”
Speaking directly to black men, the former president said that “part of this makes me think, well, you're not comfortable with the idea of having a female president and you're coming up with other options and other reasons. .”
As expected, black Trump supporters were quick to denounce the former president.
“President Obama’s recent call to support Kamala Harris based solely on the color of her skin, and not her policies toward Black men, is deeply insulting,” the Black Men on Trump’s Advisory Board argued this weekend.
But some Democrats criticized the former president for his comments, arguing that Obama unfairly singled out black men without striking a similar chord with other demographic groups that have increased support for Trump.
In another campaign to black voters, Harris headed to battleground Detroit, Michigan, on Tuesday for a town hall discussion with radio host Charlemagne Tha God, whose show “The Breakfast Club” is popular among black listeners. .
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