Vice President Kamala Harris announced a comprehensive plan on Monday aimed at expanding economic opportunities and addressing health disparities for Black men in the United States, The Associated Press reports.
The initiative comes as Democrats express concerns about a lack of enthusiasm among Black male voters, a key demographic for the party.
Harris’s “opportunity agenda for Black men” includes a range of proposals, including forgivable business loans for Black entrepreneurs, increased apprenticeship programs, and dedicated funding for research and treatment of health issues disproportionately affecting African American males, such as sickle cell disease and prostate cancer.
The vice president emphasized her support for marijuana legalization, highlighting opportunities for Black men to participate in the “national cannabis industry” as it develops. She also called for stronger regulations in the cryptocurrency market to protect Black men and others who invest in digital assets.
Harris unveiled the plan during a visit to Erie, Pennsylvania, where she met with Black men from the area at LegendErie Records and Coffee House, a newly opened Black-owned business. Later, she addressed a campaign rally in the city, criticizing former President Donald Trump’s recent suggestion that the U.S. military may need to be deployed to quell “an enemy from within” if Election Day is disrupted.
The initiative comes after former President Barack Obama expressed concerns last week that some Black men are not enthusiastic about voting for a woman president.
The Harris campaign has been actively seeking support among other male voting blocs, including Hispanics, through the group “Hombres con Harris” (Men with Harris). The latest policy rollout, however, is notable for its explicit focus on motivating Black men to vote just weeks before the election.
The campaign plans to host gender-specific gatherings, including “Black Men Huddle Up” events in key battleground states, featuring African American male celebrities and watch parties for NFL and NCAA football games. New testimonial ads featuring local Black male voices are also in the works.
Trump has also stepped up efforts to court Black and Hispanic voters of both genders, holding roundtables with Black entrepreneurs and participating in a town hall hosted by Univision, a Spanish-language network. He has, however, continued to exploit racial divisions, suggesting that illegal immigration is harming Black and Hispanic American job prospects.
Among the specific proposals in Harris’s plan:
• Forgivable Business Loans: Harris promises to distribute 1 million loans of up to $20,000 to Black entrepreneurs and other individuals with strong business ideas. These loans will be facilitated through partnerships between the Small Business Administration, community leaders, and banks committed to supporting their communities.
• Teacher Training Incentives: Harris aims to increase the number of Black male teachers by providing federal incentives for those pursuing a career in education. Statistics show that Black males comprised only slightly over 1% of public school teachers in 2020-21.
• National Health Initiative: Harris proposes a national initiative to fund research, detection, and treatment of health issues disproportionately impacting Black men, including sickle cell disease, diabetes, prostate cancer, and mental health challenges.
Harris’s “opportunity agenda” for Black men is a direct response to concerns about voter turnout among this critical demographic. The campaign hopes that these targeted initiatives and efforts to engage Black men will translate into greater support for Harris and the Democratic Party in the upcoming election.
