ICYMI: Kamala Harris unveils 'opportunity agenda for Black men'
I'm pretty sure you saw this news, but just sharing in case you hadn't.
In case you missed it: Vice President Kamala Harris revealed Monday a series of proposals her campaign is calling an “opportunity agenda for Black men." The proposals come as she works to shore up support with the underappreciated voting bloc.
Some of the main proposals include providing a million loans fully forgivable up to $20,000 for Black entrepreneurs and others to start businesses, investing in more Black male teachers, launching a health initiative that addresses health challenges disproportionately impacting Black men, legalizing marijuana, and more.
Everyone should read the full list of proposals for themselves.
I wrote about this for HuffPost, which can be found here: Kamala Harris' New Economic Agenda Reveals What She Would Do To Help Black Men.
The proposals have sparked much conversation online. Some feel that the agenda is proof that the campaign is listening.
“The Harris policy agenda aimed at Black men addresses all of the issues raised when Black Voters Matter surveyed staff and partners—including an issue near & dear to my heart, the prevalence of various cancers impacting Black men disproportionately,” said Cliff Albright, founder of Black Voters Matter.
Others believe the plans don’t go far enough.
“The vast majority of Black people in the U.S. are *not* homeowners nor business owners, so when Dems tout weak policies to support the "entrepreneurial" class and homeowners, they're attempting to appease a small minority to silence the rest of us. it's empty virtue signaling,” wrote cultural worker Musa Springer on X.
The campaign aims to promote its agenda for Black men during several events this week, including Harris’ live radio town hall with Charlamagne Tha God in Detroit. The event starts later today at 5 p.m. EST and will stream across 130 iHeartRadio stations across the country. Listeners will also be able to tune in on the iHeartRadio website.
Related: Continuing her media blitz, Harris sat down with Roland Martin and The Shade Room this week.
"Well I tell you what, if you have a problem figuring out whether you’re for [Biden] or Trump, then you ain’t black.”
- Joe Biden (2020)
“And you are thinking about sitting out? 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.”
- Barack Obama (2024)