Beyoncé’s planned donation of millions of dollars to Vice President Kamala Harris’s presidential campaign throws a spotlight on a critical issue in the 2024 election: school choice. While Beyoncé’s support for Harris is clear, her husband, Jay-Z, is quietly backing school vouchers in Pennsylvania, a crucial swing state. This creates a complex situation for Harris, who has largely avoided taking a stance on school choice. The issue divides the Democratic Party and particularly the Black community.
A significant portion of Black Americans, 72% according to a 2022 Harvard University poll, support private school vouchers. However, only 41% of White Democrats share that view. This stark contrast highlights the deep divide within the Democratic Party on this issue.
While Harris has largely sidestepped the issue of school choice during her time as Vice President, her selection of Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate suggests she may continue the Biden administration’s opposition to school choice reforms. Walz, a former high school teacher, has not supported school choice reforms despite their broad public support in Minnesota, and he is a staunch ally of organized labor.
The tension surrounding school choice is further emphasized by the strong opposition from the Democratic Party establishment. Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones criticized Jay-Z’s work in Philadelphia as a benefit to private schools. The NAACP and teachers unions have actively worked to defeat school choice proposals and limit the growth of charter schools.
This issue goes beyond politics; it touches upon the experiences of minority families. Mesha Mainor, a Black Georgia legislator, switched to the Republican Party after facing criticism from fellow Democrats for supporting a school choice bill. This shift reflects a growing frustration among minority communities with the Democratic Party’s stance on education, particularly in the post-Obama era.
Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice pointed out the hypocrisy surrounding school choice, emphasizing that wealthy families have access to various forms of educational options, while poor children are often stuck in failing urban public schools.
While President Obama supported charter schools, the Biden administration has actively suppressed them. Harris’s silence on school choice is becoming increasingly untenable as the 2024 election approaches. She has consistently avoided taking a position on charters, vouchers, or other aspects of school choice.
If Harris opposes school choice, she risks alienating a significant portion of the minority electorate, potentially pushing them towards Trump. This could significantly impact her presidential ambitions. As the election draws near, Harris’s stance on school choice will be a critical factor in determining her political future. She has a choice to make: authentically represent Black families and their priorities or prioritize narrow political interests by continuing the Biden administration’s course of appeasing teachers unions.