Harris' plan includes providing forgivable business loans for black entrepreneurs, creating more apprenticeships and studying sickle cell and other diseases that disproportionately affect African American men.
Harris already has said she supports legalizing marijuana and her plan calls for working to ensure that black men have opportunities to participate as a “national cannabis industry takes shape.” She also is calling for better regulating cryptocurrency to protect black men and others who invest in digital assets.
The vice president's so-called “opportunity agenda for black men” is meant to invigorate African American males at a moment when there are fears some may sit out the election rather than vote for Harris.
The vice president unveiled the plan Monday, ahead of an evening campaign rally in Erie, Pennsylvania, where she was to appear with Democratic Sen. John Fetterman. Her push comes after former President Barack Obama suggested last week that some black men “aren’t feeling the idea of having a woman as president.”
Trump, too, has stepped up efforts to win over black and Hispanic voters of both genders. He has held roundtables with black entrepreneurs in swing states and will sit for a townhall sponsored by Spanish-language Univision this week.
