Harris Rallies Black Voters, Emphasizes Voting Rights in Campaign Push

As the November 2024 election approaches, Vice President Kamala Harris is intensifying her campaign efforts to mobilize Black voters, a crucial demographic in several battleground states. Alongside President Joe Biden, Harris is addressing key issues such as voting rights and economic policies that directly impact the Black community.

On September 14, 2024, Harris and Biden are scheduled to speak at the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation dinner, an organization established in 1976 to advance the global Black community. This event caps off a week of activities known as "CBC week" in Washington, highlighting the administration's commitment to Black voters.

Harris has been vocal about what she terms a "freedom agenda," emphasizing the importance of protecting voting rights. She has criticized recent legislation in Georgia that prohibits providing food and water to voters waiting in line, stating, "The hypocrisy abounds. Whatever happened to 'Love thy neighbor?'" This law has become a focal point in the ongoing debate over voting accessibility.

The vice president's campaign has been actively engaging with historically Black institutions. Harris, an alumna of Howard University, founded in 1867, has made appearances at gatherings of Black sororities and invited HBCU marching bands to perform at her events. This outreach taps into a rich history of Black education and community organization, with the first Black sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha, established at Howard in 1908.

"Generations of Americans before us led the fight for freedom, and now the baton is in our hands. So we who believe in the sacred freedom to vote, will finally pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Act. ... So much is at stake in this election."

Harris's potential to become the first woman of color elected president has generated excitement among Black women voters, a demographic that played a crucial role in the 2020 election. However, the campaign faces challenges in maintaining and increasing voter enthusiasm. A recent poll indicated a slight increase in Black Americans' commitment to voting this fall, rising from 62% in April to 69% in September 2024, though still below the 74% recorded in June 2020.

The Biden-Harris administration has been highlighting its work on behalf of HBCUs, with Biden set to attend the 2024 National HBCU Conference in Philadelphia the week of September 16. This conference, held annually since 2010, underscores the ongoing importance of these institutions in American higher education.

As part of her campaign strategy, Harris is scheduled for a "fireside chat" with the National Association of Black Journalists on September 17, 2024. This organization, founded in 1975, has been instrumental in promoting diversity in media and addressing issues affecting the Black community.

The campaign is also focusing on key battleground states, with Harris planning visits to Wisconsin and Michigan. These states form part of the "blue wall," a term that gained prominence in the 1960s to describe consistently Democratic-voting states. In Michigan, Harris will join media mogul Oprah Winfrey, who became the first Black woman billionaire in 2003, for a "Unite for America" event aimed at grassroots mobilization.

As the election draws near, the Harris campaign continues to emphasize voting rights, including support for the John Lewis Voting Rights Act. This proposed legislation, named after the civil rights leader who served in Congress from 1987 to 2020, aims to restore and strengthen parts of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, a landmark in U.S. civil rights legislation.

The upcoming election presents a critical juncture for American democracy, with voting rights and representation at the forefront of political discourse. As Harris noted, "So much is at stake in this election," highlighting the historical significance of this moment in the ongoing struggle for equal rights and representation in the United States.