June 16th 2024.
On June 14th, Vice President Kamala Harris made her way to the bustling city of Atlanta, where she addressed attendees of the 38th Conference of 100 Black Men as part of her economic opportunity tour. The highly anticipated event, moderated by the charismatic Steve Harvey of Family Feud fame, provided a platform for Harris to engage in a meaningful conversation about economic opportunities for all.
While some may have assumed that Harris' presence was an endorsement of herself and the Biden-Harris Administration, a press release from The 100 Black Men of America clarified that it was actually an opportunity for open and honest dialogue about economic opportunities. As reported by Georgia Public Broadcasting, Harris highlighted the need for small minority-owned businesses to have access to venture capital, as well as the importance of homeownership and debt prevention in closing the racial wealth gap.
During her speech, Harris acknowledged the systemic obstacles that hinder individuals from achieving success and emphasized the importance of providing equal opportunities for everyone to compete and thrive. She made it clear that this was not about handouts, but rather about creating a level playing field for hardworking individuals to get ahead and not just scrape by.
This was not Harris' first visit to Atlanta on her economic opportunity tour, as she had previously made a stop in April. According to a White House fact sheet, this visit highlighted a $158 million investment from the Biden-Harris Administration in Atlanta's Reconnecting Communities and Neighborhoods Program, the first of its kind from the federal government. The project, known as "The Stitch," was awarded to communities in 40 states and aims to address the harm caused by the development of America's highway system, which often resulted in the destruction of thriving Black communities and neighborhoods.
The impact of the interstate highway system on Black communities is a well-documented and painful part of American history. Civil rights lawyer and law professor Deborah Archer explains that these highways were strategically built to reinforce racial inequality and protect white spaces and privilege. Harris' economic opportunity tour and the Reconnecting Communities and Neighborhoods Program are the Biden-Harris Administration's way of acknowledging and addressing this troubling legacy.
In addition to her previous visit, Harris is expected to return to Atlanta on June 18th to discuss the pressing issue of gun violence. The fact sheet states that the economic opportunity tour is part of the administration's efforts to support economic comebacks in communities that have suffered from decades of disinvestment and neglect. By investing in these communities, the Biden-Harris Administration hopes to rectify past harm and create a brighter future for all individuals, regardless of their race or background.
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