Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee, launched a direct appeal to Black voters during an interview on Shannon Sharpe’s popular podcast, Club Shay Shay. Her message was clear: Donald Trump does not have the best interests of Black Americans at heart. Harris’s appearance on the show, just weeks before the election, underscores the growing trend of political campaigns utilizing popular media platforms to reach voters directly.
With the election tightening in key battleground states, Harris used the opportunity to outline her vision for America and to directly address Black voters. She warned that a Trump administration would not prioritize the interests of the Black community, stating, “Donald Trump is not going to be thinking about you. Don’t think you’re in Donald Trump’s club. You’re not. He’s not going to be thinking about you.” Harris challenged the notion that Trump would be a champion for Black Americans, questioning whether he would even consider their needs. She used a poignant rhetorical question to drive home her point: “You think he’s having you over for dinner? You think that when he’s with his billionaire buddies, he’s thinking about what we have to do to deal with addressing for example my work [with Black men’s health disparities]?”
Harris also highlighted her own record and plans for addressing economic disparities within the Black community. She emphasized her work to address health and economic gaps within the community, contrasting her approach with Trump’s focus on business interests. She warned Black men considering Trump in 2024 that her Republican rival’s focus is elsewhere. “You think he’s having you over for dinner? You think that when he’s with his billionaire buddies, he’s thinking about what we need to do to deal with disparity in Black men’s health?” she asked, highlighting her own “years of work” as the foundation for her current plans.
Harris went on to criticize Trump’s leadership style, accusing him of fostering division rather than unity. “To be president of the United States means to find common ground, to build consensus, to lift up the American people instead of trying to beat people down all the time,” she said. She emphasized that Trump’s rhetoric and actions “do not embody those values.” Harris further questioned Trump’s commitment to democracy, referencing his past statements about “terminating” parts of the Constitution. “The question for everybody is should he be president of the United States. That’s the question,” she said. “Should he have the ability to sit behind the seal of the president of the United States when he says he wants to terminate the Constitution of the United States?” Harris’s sharp questioning challenged Trump’s qualifications to lead and the potential dangers of a second term.
Harris also took the opportunity to address the narrative surrounding the pandemic-era stimulus checks. She debunked the perception that Trump was solely responsible for the checks, clarifying that it was Congress, particularly a Democratic-led House, that pushed for the payments. While Trump’s name was on the checks, Harris stressed that it was Congress, with bipartisan support, that made the payments possible.
In a personal moment, Harris opened up about the grief she experienced after losing her mother to cancer. She reflected on the importance of remembering loved ones as they lived, not as they died, sharing a heartfelt message about coping with loss.
Harris’s appearance on Club Shay Shay serves as both a rallying call and a warning to Black voters, highlighting the choice she believes they face in 2024. “To be president,” she said, “means to try and lift up the American people.” Her message resonated with Black voters, reminding them of the importance of their vote and the stakes of the upcoming election.
