Kamala Still Struggling To Gain Black Voter Support?
Vice President Kamala Harris, an esteemed alumna of an HBCU and a figure backed by many alumni and former leaders, is not assured of unequivocal support from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Despite her credentials and historic potential as the first Black female president and an HBCU graduate, there are lingering concerns about her commitment to addressing the real policy needs of these institutions.
Walter Kimbrough, interim president at Talladega College in Alabama, highlighted this issue in a recent interview with Politico. Kimbrough emphasized that HBCUs are facing pressing policy challenges that need to be addressed by presidential candidates. He remarked, “As a president, we should evaluate who is genuinely addressing our concerns and urge our constituents to support candidates who are willing to engage with our issues.” This statement underscores a critical point: while symbolic milestones are significant, tangible policy support remains essential.
In contrast, former President Donald Trump’s administration took concrete actions to support HBCUs, notably signing the Future Act into law. This legislation ensured $255 million in annual federal funding for these institutions, a commitment Trump proudly labeled as more substantial than any previous administration’s efforts.
The relationship between Democrats and HBCUs has had its share of friction. During President Barack Obama’s tenure, there were discussions about potential cuts to HBCU funding, and House Democrats later resisted additional funding requests under the Biden administration’s direction.
According to Lodriguez Murray, senior vice president of government affairs at the United Negro College Fund, the current presidential campaigns have been more focused on personalities than on substantive policy issues. “By this time in 2020, we had clear discussions about policies and agreements. This campaign has lacked that focused policy discourse,” Murray observed.
While Harris has engaged with her alma mater, Howard University, including debate preparations and student interactions, the enthusiasm and symbolic value of her candidacy must translate into concrete policy commitments to win over HBCU communities.
