WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) – Vice President Kamala Harris is working to bring Black male voters in key battleground states back into the fold. With just three weeks left until Election Day and with early voting starting in Detroit, Michigan Saturday, Vice Harris laid out her plan to uplift Black men in the critical Democratic stronghold Tuesday.
In a radio interview with the “Breakfast Club” she vowed, if elected, to invest in Black-owned small businesses, provide down payment assistance to first time homebuyers and work to legalize marijuana.
“I will work on decriminalizing it because I know how those laws have been used to impact disproportionate populations, especially Black men,” says Harris.
Some polls suggest an increasing number of young Black men are unhappy with Democrats and are backing former president Donald Trump.
Former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick says young Black men are drawn to Trump’s “straight talk” and are no longer “fooled” by Democrats’ empty promises.
“They like someone who says it hard,” says Kilpatrick. “What they want to hear is I’m just going to get it done for you.” Asked what the Trump campaign is offering Black men, Kilpatrick says Trump’s record as a businessman proves he can help Black men access capital and grow their businesses.
“He wants to put Black people in business” says Kilpatrick.
During a campaign stop in Atlanta Georgia Tuesday, another battleground for Black voters, Trump told the crowd Democrats have “screwed” Black Americans. Early voting started in the state this week.
In his speech he said the Biden-Harris administration’s border policies have allowed migrants to steal the jobs of African Americans.
“Kamala’s open border policy is a complete betrayal of African American communities, ” says Trump.
Congressional Black Caucus Chairman Rep Steven Horsford (D-Nev.) says Black men should not trust Trump.
“The whole strategy is target one group and pit that one over the other,” says Horsford.
Horsford insists Black men continue to be Democrats’ second most dedicated voter block behind Black women.
Leaving Detroit Wednesday afternoon, VP Harris said she is not taking any demographic for granted and will continue to work to earn the support of Black men.
