Votes Over Verses: What African-American Voters Really Want in 2024

 

Source: ROBYN BECK / Getty

The 2024 election is heating up, and candidates are making desperate attempts to draw in the African-American community. Thus far, they have been using hip-hop artists as their main attraction to gain the African-American vote while not really promising or giving a comprehensive game plan. This strategy seems to reflect a narrow view of what resonates with Black voters. Is hip-hop all they think we understand?

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At a recent rally in the Bronx, Donald Trump appeared with hip-hop artists Chef G and Sleepy Hallow. Meanwhile, Kamala Harris, a Democratic potential nominee, hosted Megan Thee Stallion in Atlanta yesterday at her rally, also featuring Atlanta native Quavo. Harris’s main message was, “We’re not going back!”

During her first trip to Georgia as a presidential candidate on Tuesday, Harris pledged that Democrats will win a state the party had previously written off and taunted Republican Donald Trump for backing out of a debate with her.

With less than 100 days left in one of the least predictable campaign seasons in recent history, Democrats are redrawing their map to victory. They hope the prospect of the first Black and Asian woman president can motivate Democrats to the polls. Harris’s election campaign, hastily put together after President Joe Biden ended his re-election bid on July 22, has raised $200 million and signed up 170,000 new volunteers.

Despite both potential candidates using hiphop artist, they got two very different reactions. Trump’s use of drill rappers in NYC seemed to take better than Kamla’s use of grammy award winner Meg The Stallion. Most viewers didn’t think Meg had music that was appropriate for the occasion.

However, the question remains: What are African-American voters really looking for in a presidential candidate? The reliance on hip-hop artists as a means to connect with Black voters may not be enough. It’s clear that the African-American community is seeking more substantial engagement, meaningful promises, and a genuine game plan that addresses their needs and concerns. The candidates need to go beyond surface-level appeals and demonstrate a real understanding and commitment to the issues that matter most to African-American voters.

Here’s areas the black community as a whole is focused on this election cycle:

• Economic Policies and Job Creation: Candidates should have concrete plans to address economic disparities, including support for Black-owned businesses, job creation in Black communities, and policies to reduce the racial wealth gap.
• Criminal Justice Reform: Look for candidates committed to reforming the criminal justice system, including ending mass incarceration, eliminating racial profiling, and implementing police reform to ensure fair treatment for all.
• Healthcare Access and Equity: Ensure candidates have a strong stance on improving healthcare access and addressing health disparities that disproportionately affect Black communities, including maternal health, chronic diseases, and mental health services.
• Education and Student Loan Policies: Support for better funding for public schools in Black communities, policies to address student loan debt, and initiatives to make higher education more accessible and affordable are crucial.
• Voting Rights and Civil Rights Protections: A strong commitment to protecting and expanding voting rights, combating voter suppression, and upholding civil rights laws to ensure equal protection and justice for all citizens.

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