Vice President Kamala Harris navigated a sensitive question during a recent conversation with members of the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) in Philadelphia. When asked whether she would support a commission to study reparations for slavery and systemic racism, Harris declined to give a definitive answer. While acknowledging the historical significance of these issues and the need to “speak truth about history,” she suggested that Congress should take the lead on studying the impact of racism and the potential for reparations.
Harris emphasized the importance of understanding the generational impact of slavery, redlining, and Jim Crow laws, but ultimately deferred to Congress for taking action. She emphasized her own focus on addressing economic disparities, highlighting proposals she believes would empower Black Americans. These proposals, she explained, aim to build an “opportunity economy” by tackling issues like student loan debt, medical debt, and racial bias in home appraisals.
She also mentioned her long-standing commitment to combating Black maternal mortality, emphasizing the stark reality that Black women are three to four times more likely to die in childbirth compared to other women. This commitment underscores her focus on tangible solutions to address racial disparities.
The vice president’s response comes amid persistent calls from racial justice groups and some Democrats for President Biden to establish a national reparations commission through executive order. While acknowledging the need to address historical injustices, Harris’s approach appears to prioritize economic empowerment through targeted policies rather than a formal commission dedicated to reparations.
Harris also faced questions about Black men potentially supporting former President Trump. She dismissed the notion that Black men are automatically aligned with any specific political figure, asserting that “Black men are like any other voting group. You gotta earn their vote.” Harris emphasized that she is working to earn the support of Black men based on her policies and her understanding of the needs of diverse communities.
