Harris Courts Black Male Voters Amid Political Shift

Vice President Kamala Harris is actively working to strengthen her support among Black male voters by proposing policies such as legalizing marijuana and expressing openness to reparations. Her efforts come amid a gradual shift of Black male voters from the Democratic Party to the GOP, a trend that poses a significant challenge for Democrats in crucial battleground states. Harris's political strategy includes promoting an 'Opportunity Agenda for Black Men,' which aims to provide economic opportunities and lower costs for this demographic, though her campaign faced backlash for appearing to infuse race into economic policies. Additionally, Harris has faced criticism for her past as a California prosecutor with numerous marijuana-related convictions, which the GOP has leveraged to attract Black voters by highlighting her record. In interviews, Harris has clarified her stance on reparations, suggesting it needs further study, and underscored her commitment to decriminalizing marijuana to address its disproportionate impact on Black communities. The former President Donald Trump’s campaign has countered Harris’s proposals, labeling them as part of a 'radical liberal' agenda.