Vice President Kamala Harris visited a Black-owned art gallery in Detroit, Michigan, on Tuesday as part of her effort to engage with Black male voters. Joined by actors Don Cheadle, Delroy Lindo, and Detroit native Cornelius Smith Jr., Harris participated in a discussion centered on entrepreneurship and economic empowerment for Black men.
The event also marked the launch of her “Opportunity Agenda for Black Men,” a plan that offers new economic benefits such as forgivable business loans of up to $20,000 for entrepreneurs and the expansion of apprenticeship programs. The agenda also includes funding for research into diseases like sickle cell anemia, which disproportionately impact Black men.
Harris has intensified her outreach to Black male voters in recent weeks, with former President Barack Obama joining her on the campaign trail. During a speech in Pittsburgh, Obama emphasized the importance of the Black male vote and acknowledged some reluctance within the group, saying, “some just aren’t comfortable with the idea of having a woman president.” While the campaign is not overly worried about a significant shift of Black male voters to the Republican side, they are concerned about voter apathy, which could reduce turnout.
Meanwhile, former President Donald Trump, campaigning in Atlanta, urged his supporters to take advantage of early voting, which has already begun in several states. “I’m hearing very good things,” Trump told the crowd, noting record early voting numbers. He encouraged voters to submit mail-in ballots promptly or vote in person as soon as possible, stressing the importance of turnout for Republican success.
As both campaigns focus on key voter demographics, Harris is working to keep Black male voters engaged, while Trump’s team is mobilizing early voters, particularly in swing states like Georgia and Arizona. With early voting in full swing, voter turnout is expected to be a decisive factor in the outcome of the 2024 election.