Kamala Harris traveled to Detroit today for a town hall-style event hosted by Charlamagne Tha God, a comedian and author whose radio show is popular with Black millennials. The appearance was the latest stop in a blitz of ads and appearances that the Harris campaign hopes will convince Black voters to stick with the Democratic ticket.
Nationally, Harris is supported by a vast majority of Black voters. But a recent Times poll found that she was underperforming President Biden’s support in 2020 by roughly 10 percentage points, and by 15 points among Black men.
Young Black men in particular said they feel disillusioned by the political system and do not see how Harris’s policies could help them. Their apathy and frustration have provided an opening for Donald Trump.
That’s why Harris’s campaign has, for the first time, begun to directly confront the growing alienation of Black voters. Her campaign released a policy agenda targeted heavily at Black men, including forgiving a portion of small-business loans, supporting mentorship and apprenticeship programs and a program that would help stem health inequities for Black men.
On the campaign trail
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