President Joe Biden initiated a new effort on Friday to strengthen his support among African American voters, a crucial demographic that helped him secure victory over Republican Donald Trump in the 2020 election. Biden visited the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C., where he greeted attendees by declaring, “Black history is American history.”
Engagement with the Black Community
Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, who is a member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority, one of the Divine Nine historically Black Greek-letter organizations, later met privately at the White House with leaders from these groups. This engagement aims to reinforce connections with key community leaders and emphasize the administration’s commitment to addressing issues pertinent to African Americans.
Historical Commemorations and Upcoming Speeches
On Thursday, Biden met with families involved in the landmark Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court ruling, commemorating the 70th anniversary of the decision that led to school desegregation. “We learn better when we learn together,” Biden said during his visit to the museum.
These events are a prelude to Biden’s commencement speech at Morehouse College in Atlanta on Sunday, a historically Black institution and alma mater of Martin Luther King Jr. Additionally, Biden will attend an event on Saturday in Georgia aimed at engaging Black voters, reinforcing his administration’s outreach efforts.
Addressing Political Challenges and Accomplishments
Biden’s actions come amid divisions within the Democratic Party over his handling of the Israel-Hamas conflict, which has strained the coalition he relied on to defeat Trump four years ago. A recent Reuters/Ipsos poll highlighted these divisions, while a New York Times/Siena College poll indicated that Trump is gaining traction among Black voters, securing 20% of their support.
Biden has criticized Trump for policies he claims have harmed Black Americans. Speaking on an Atlanta radio show, Biden said, “Trump hurt Black people every chance he got,” citing increases in Black unemployment and uninsured rates, as well as disparities in the benefits from Trump’s tax plan. He also condemned Trump’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, which disproportionately affected Black communities.
Biden has highlighted several achievements that benefit Black Americans, including expanded access to healthcare, economic gains leading to record low Black unemployment rates, and the expansion of the Child Tax Credit, which helped reduce childhood poverty in 2021.
Importance of Black Voter Turnout
With the November 5 election shaping up to be a close contest between Biden and Trump, mobilizing Black voters in key battleground states like Georgia, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania is crucial for Biden’s reelection strategy.
Biden’s campaign, in a memo from senior adviser Trey Baker, emphasized the importance of continuous engagement with Black voters. “We are not, and will not, parachute into these communities at the last minute, expecting their vote,” the memo stated. “Every day, from now until election day, we will continue working diligently to ensure that come November, Black voters send Joe Biden and Kamala Harris back to the White House to continue delivering for Black America in unprecedented ways.”