The Presidential candidate Kamala Harris of the Democratic Party voiced concerns last Tuesday about her Republican competition, Donald Trump. She alleged that Trump intends to enforce severe law enforcement practices that greatly affect African American men. At the same time, Trump attributed the negative impacts on Black and Latino communities to Harris’ immigration stance. At a Georgia rally, Trump admonished the Black and Latino citizens against voting for Harris, stating that such a decision would be against their own interests.
During a community meet on a radio platform earlier, Harris pledged her efforts toward the decriminalization of cannabis; a change that, she stated, would lessen its overly pronounced effects on the Black demographic. She went on to acknowledge that racial biases and disparities permeate common life aspects for Black individuals; these include areas as diverse as home ownership, healthcare, economic prosperity, and even voting rights.
Being only three weeks away from the ultimate decision day of presidential elections in 2024, both candidates are pursuing Black voters, women, and other pivotal voter groups, with an outcome that can’t be accurately forecasted. A small shift in loyalty among any voter group can potentially sway the election. Harris reiterated that enduring racial biases didn’t afford anyone the luxury of stepping back from election participation.
To further support her stance, Harris stated, ‘Lingering issues or imperfections in our society should not dissuade anyone from voting. It’s a closely contested election. It’s going to be a tough fight, but I’m confident in my victory.’ Harris avoided giving a direct answer when asked about reparations, or prospective government payments to the descendants of enslaved people. She believes the idea ‘needs thorough study and consideration.’
In relation to law enforcement, Trump is advocating to reinstate ‘tried and proven crime combating methods’, such as ‘stop and frisk.’ This approach was in action in the New York City Police Department, and involved stopping, questioning, and possibly frisking individuals deemed ‘reasonably suspicious.’ Critics state this approach added to the existing racial bias, as it predominantly affected Black and Hispanic men. The practice was found to have violated the U.S. constitution in 2013.
Harris shot back at Trump’s campaign stating that they were ‘attempting to instill fear as a tactic, because they don’t have a substantial platform to present.’ She further challenged anyone to question Trump about his strategic plan for Black America. However, Trump did not directly address Harris’ critique during several events on Tuesday, but he emphatically expressed his views on immigrants, accusing them of adversely affecting communities of color by taking job opportunities.
During a town hall, he vehemently accused President Joe Biden and Vice President Harris of betraying the African American and Hispanic communities because of their lax border policies. He dodged questions about the declining abortion rights and channeled the conversation to a cultural clash, asserting his commitment to prohibit male-born athletes from participating in women’s sports. When asked about enforcement mechanisms, he firmly responded, ‘You simply prohibit it. The authority of the President ensures it doesn’t occur.’
Harris recently rolled out a series of new initiatives named the ‘Opportunity Agenda for Black Men’. Its mission is to afford more economic benefits to Black men, such as providing forgivable business loans up to $20,000 for entrepreneurs and fostering more apprenticeship programs. The scheme also endorses researching diseases like sickle cell anemia, which predominantly affect Black men.
The campaign focus sharpened around Black men when ex-President Barack Obama openly supported Harris in Pittsburgh and straightforwardly addressed Black male voters, citing some of them may have reservations about women holding the highest office in the land. The Vice President’s campaign spokespeople firmly stated that they don’t expect substantial Black male support for Trump, given the strong backing they accorded to the Democrats, Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, in the 2020 canvass.
While support among women for Harris has remained robust since she became the Democratic front-runner, Trump is making a push to minimize this advantage on Election Day. This endeavor could be daunting, given that his backing among women, especially in suburban areas of essential swing states, has waned since his presidency. A September survey by AP-NORC indicated that over half of the registered women voters view Harris favorably, while only around one-third feel the same for Trump.
To counter this trend, Trump has been projecting himself as a personal guardian against various threats. At a rally in September, he declared, ‘I will ensure your protection.’ He further stated that there would be no need to contemplate abortions if he were to win, as the three Supreme Court judges appointed by him were instrumental in overturning the landmark ruling in 2022.
Harris found it laughable that Trump painted himself as a champion for women, when maternal mortality has been on the rise and around one-third of women are living in states with increasingly constraining abortion restrictions. She questioned, ‘How can one purport to act in the best interest of women and children when they turn a blind eye to the rising maternal mortality rate among Black women?’
To conclude, both the presidential candidates are making active pushes to win over key demographic groups. The contest is poised to be a tight one, with the next few weeks crucial in swaying voters. The lead up to Election Day is marked by profound discussions and the unveiling of agendas that aim to address and uplift the pivotal voter groups.