How Kamala Harris’ Campaign Is Winning Back Black Men

How Kamala Harris’ Campaign Is Winning Back Black Men

As a long-time observer and participant in American politics, I find it fascinating to see how celebrity endorsements continue to play a significant role in campaigns, particularly within the Democratic Party. The Harris campaign’s strategy of leveraging the energy that celebrities bring seems like a savvy move, considering their ability to mobilize supporters and boost turnout – an advantage for any candidate.


Last week, Vice President Kamala Harris and Barack Obama appeared together for the first time at a rally during her campaign, which was marked by a brief timeline. During this event, the previous president, who remains highly influential among Democrats, elaborated on the candidate’s policies and personality. At one instance, he specifically addressed the demographic that had recently prompted Vice President Harris’s campaign to engage with Black male voters in an unprecedented manner for any Democrat.

Obama pointed out a trend – often seen in certain males, including some men of color – where they perceive Donald Trump’s actions as a demonstration of power, exhibiting an aggressive ‘I will dominate, I will humiliate’ attitude. However, Obama clarified to the audience that this is not true strength. In fact, it has never been, as he implied that these individuals may be mistakenly drawn into Trump’s scheme.

As the Harris campaign approached the last two weeks before the 2024 election, they faced a worry that intensified when they received some surprising yet indisputable information from the polls.

Last week, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution revealed that Harris had received the backing of 73.8% of Georgia’s Black voters, while Trump only had 7.6%. This represents a significant advantage for Harris as vice president. However, any shift towards the Republican party is a significant worry in a campaign that is becoming increasingly close as the weeks go by.

In 2020, approximately 88% of Georgia’s Black voters backed President Joe Biden. However, a New York Times/Siena College poll indicated that Kamala Harris was experiencing her biggest drop in support among Black men compared to Biden. The survey revealed that 70% of Black males intend to vote for Harris, whereas 83% of Black females declared their intention to vote for the vice president by or before Nov. 5.

The tightness of the contest between Harris and the ex-president is hard to overstate, especially considering current polls. An NBC News survey reveals that these two candidates are neck and neck, with each garnering 48% support among potential voters according to their poll results.

The current situation for the Harris campaign is delicate, as any factor that could divert votes from her final count is now a significant issue. As the Democrat’s nominee, she faces the challenging task of preserving the alliance between Black and Latino voters that the party has cultivated over many years, but which appears to be unraveling. This coalition has been weakened as Trump and the Republicans gain ground among the working class, leaving Harris to depend on the party’s new fallback voting group — the college-educated middle class, which, according to all indications, is decreasing in number.

As her three-month campaign nears its end, Harris and her team are determined not to let the hard-earned votes of Black men shift towards the Republican party. They’ve prepared a strategy, and it’s now time to bring it into focus. The positive aspect is that this strategy, set to be executed soon, will make history as it is the first campaign plan specifically addressing the needs of Black men.

Ever since her speech at the Democratic National Convention in August, Harris has been advocating for an “opportunity economy” as a key part of her campaign. Speaking from the stage in Chicago, she outlined how a Harris administration aims to unite labor forces, small business owners, entrepreneurs, and major corporations to generate employment opportunities. This approach emphasizes making childcare and housing affordable, reducing healthcare and energy costs, supporting small businesses, and offering tax incentives for the middle class.

On October 14th, the Harris campaign unveiled their Opportunity Economy plan specifically tailored for Black Men. In a unique moment in American history, actor Michael Ealy shared with The Hollywood Reporter over the phone following a nationwide tour aimed at engaging black men, that they “finally felt seen. They felt like someone was addressing them directly in politics for the first time.

I’m one of many influential Black figures approached by Team Harris recently, tasked with reaching out to our community in crucial swing states. Over the past weeks, I’ve been a part of countless Zoom meetings, knocking on doors, attending events, and even dropping by barbershops and Black-owned businesses to chat with Black male voters. My role here is to support Harris, rally votes for her, and hopefully bridge some of the gaps Trump has created within the Democratic coalition of minority voting blocs.

As a curious observer, I’ve been pondering whether the polls are accurate and if there’s indeed a shift among Black men towards Trump that might not be reflected on Election Day. Is this a fleeting trend or an overblown media narrative? Perhaps it’s best for us to hear it directly from the Black leaders and celebrities who have been in Georgia, Pennsylvania, and other battleground states. When asked about their experiences conversing with Black men and whether this shift was tangible, each individual I spoke with responded emphatically – “no.

In summary, the upcoming election is expected to be extremely close, and every vote will count significantly. However, it’s important to note that, based on his conversations with people, Producer Will Packer doesn’t observe a large-scale abandonment of VP Kamala Harris or the Democratic agenda among African Americans. Instead, he’s surprised by the number of rural white voters who express disapproval of Trump and indicate they won’t vote for him again. Consequently, while the election outcome remains uncertain, Packer doesn’t perceive a mass exodus of Black men from Kamala Harris’ support as a significant challenge.

How Kamala Harris’ Campaign Is Winning Back Black Men

Will Packer, known for his successful films like “Think Like a Man”, “Ride Along”, and “Girls Trip” through Will Packer Productions and Will Packer Media, stated that it was during a small gathering at Kamala Harris’ home that he felt compelled to contribute to the campaign’s outreach towards Black men. He expressed that many men he’s spoken with view the Opportunity Agenda for Black Men as an unexpected opportunity they hadn’t realized they were longing for.

At a town hall meeting in Atlanta, someone shared something intriguing: ‘I don’t support her because she’s a Black woman, but rather because of what she stands for. I hadn’t realized before that her political stance and goals could have such significant economic advantages for me. To me, the color green – symbolizing prosperity – matters more than race.’

Early observed that many aspects of President Joe Biden and the Democratic Party’s relationship with the Black community remained consistent during his visits on behalf of Vice President Harris.

When discussing the administration’s actions on medical debt and aid for first-time homebuyers receiving $25,000, it’s clear that the Democratic Party faces challenges in effectively communicating its policies. It’s fascinating to note that the Republican Party lacks a clear message, yet their messages manage to circulate widely. The spread of misinformation about Springfield and unfounded tales of migrants consuming local pets is an example. However, crucial information about child tax credits, first-time mortgage assistance, and even student loan debt – which has been in the news for the past eight months – remains largely unknown. Even though many people have benefited from student loan forgiveness, they still fail to connect the dots. On the other hand, everything that’s being said seems to be reaching its target from the Republican side.

Moments such as these, when we learn and exchange knowledge, echo the objectives of the Harris campaign: reaching out to voters to discuss Vice President Kamala Harris and Governor Tim Walz’s plan for a fresh approach that promises progress within the African-American community.

Senior advisor Kamau Marshall of Vice President Harris’s campaign stated in a message to THR that Harris has definite strategies for genuine transformation. She is uniquely positioned among presidential candidates, offering a comprehensive policy strategy that addresses the needs of all people, particularly Black men, through various outreach channels. In a surprising turn of events, Vice President Harris has left an impression that surpasses her competitor who has been in the race for more than a year. The fresh policies and these significant interactions are designed to appeal to Black voters, motivating them to vote in this election.

Key aspects of the outreach initiative involve meetings named “Shop Talk” and “Black Men Gather,” which are designed to encourage genuine discussions in crucial swing states. Marshall emphasizes that these group dialogue sessions aim to provide a welcoming environment for Black men to openly express their thoughts on significant issues that are frequently overlooked or underrepresented.

The states of Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Georgia, and Arizona were chosen for these community gatherings aimed at Black men, extending from urban centers to rural areas. Events under the name “Black Men Huddle” have been held in Detroit, Charlotte, Atlanta, and Philadelphia, according to the campaign. The roster of celebrities and influential figures involved in this initiative reads like a roll call of prominent African-Americans in the U.S., including Tyler Perry, Brian Tyree Henry, Don Cheadle, Spike Lee, John Legend, Jermaine Dupri, Bakari Sellers, among others. The individuals mentioned by Team Harris to THR are not exhaustive, as other notable figures have also expressed their support through virtual meetings and online platforms.

Critics, often from the Republican Party or Fox News, argue that the Harris campaign is using celebrities excessively to boost its momentum, suggesting that people are not interested enough in her speeches to fill a stadium. Additionally, they have been quite harsh towards her key supporters like Obama, claiming that his actions after leaving Martha’s Vineyard to criticize Black men’s behavior were insincere and self-serving.

Celebrity endorsement is practically built into the fabric of the Democrat and goes back decades. You could call it sour grapes from across the aisle as they look over at much more exciting events, and the actual impact of a celebrity endorsement is questionable but certainly negligible — though what Taylor Swift’s vast legion of Swifties is capable of mobilizing remains to be seen.

The Harris campaign has likened the candidate’s attendance at her events to the electric atmosphere generated by a star gracing a stage. It was electrifying to witness Harris unexpectedly make an appearance on the opening night of this year’s Democratic National Convention; the crowd erupted with enthusiasm for the vice president. The buzz surrounding celebrities when they venture into politics, although not directly affecting vote totals, creates that electric atmosphere and boosts attendance – a near-constant advantage for Democrats.

Kevin Liles has some expertise in generating energy. As a record executive, co-founder, and CEO of 300 Entertainment, who served as president of Def Jam Recordings and executive vice president of The Island Def Jam Music Group for five years, Kevin shared with THR that he’s known Harris from her time as California’s attorney general. He mentioned that he can blend the necessary outreach for her campaign into his busy, globetrotting career.

He clarified his situation: “I’m currently in Philadelphia for an iHeart concert, and they’ve asked if I would attend a discussion focused on Black men here in the city. I’m considering my options – should I reach out to my contacts, or am I required to be in Washington D.C., or Baltimore? I’m frequently traveling and seizing opportunities to amplify my voice through radio and television, connecting DJs and artists together. It’s a reciprocal relationship where it’s unclear who’s leading whom, or if we’re simply collaborating to achieve our goals.

The well-networked executive went on to say, “I’m discussing everything with everyone I interact with about what I believe is in the best interest of our nation.

On Tuesday, the NAACP’s latest survey revealed that the notion about Black men turning away from Vice President Harris might not be entirely accurate. It appears that Black males aged 50 and under are less likely to support Trump now, with only 21% of them expressing their intention to vote for him, down from 27% in August. Conversely, the same age group is showing a growing preference for Harris, with 59% indicating they will vote for her, up from 51% in August.

Quentin James, creator of Win With Black Men – a group consisting of dedicated voters who frequently gather on Zoom to discuss political campaigns – stated that the responses they’ve received might influence the results seen in the NAACP’s survey. He hopes these effects will be evident on November 5th and has found this massive endeavor “extraordinarily” rewarding for everyone involved.

“It’s so interesting to witness Black men not knowing how to react. Because for the first time, a candidate is saying, ‘I want to do something for you through policy,” he explained of his weeks campaigning for Harris on her historic platform item. “There was a ton of chatter in this election: ‘Democrats are always this. They’re always that and never deliver.’ Now that we have this plan, I’m seeing a lot of brothers changing their hearts and minds to hope that this time might be different. And I think that is what’s been incredible to witness and to watch for our organization. It’s a love letter to Black men in the form of policy.”

Read More

Sorry. No data so far.

2024-11-03 23:28