U.S. President Joe Biden addresses the audience at the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C., on May 17, 2024. REUTERS/Leah Millis. Img source: reuters.com
May 17, 2024 Story by Editor
WASHINGTON – President Joe Biden launched a renewed effort to solidify support from African American voters on Friday, aiming to mend any fractures within the Democratic coalition that secured his 2020 victory over Republican Donald Trump.
Biden’s visit to the renowned National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C., set the stage for his message, where he greeted attendees with, “Black history is American history.” Later, he and Vice President Kamala Harris planned a private meeting at the White House with the Divine Nine, a collective of historically Black sororities and fraternities. Notably, Harris is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha, a sorority she joined during her time at Howard University.
On Thursday, Biden also engaged with families of individuals involved in the Supreme Court’s historic May 17, 1954, Brown v. Board of Education decision, which marked its 70th anniversary and led to the desegregation of schools. “We learn better when we learn together,” Biden remarked during his museum visit.
This series of events culminates in Biden’s commencement address on Sunday at Morehouse College in Atlanta, a historically Black institution and alma mater of the revered civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. Additionally, Biden will participate in a Saturday event in Georgia aimed at mobilizing Black voters.
Democrats face internal conflicts regarding Biden’s management of the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza, as revealed by a new Reuters/Ipsos poll, which has strained the coalition that helped him defeat Trump four years ago. A recent New York Times/Siena College poll indicated that Trump is garnering 20% of the Black vote, suggesting he is making strides with a demographic that has predominantly supported Democrats.
Biden criticized Trump and other Republicans for opposing initiatives that promote diversity, equity, and inclusion. Speaking with Atlanta radio host Darian “Big Tigger” Morgan on Wednesday, Biden sharply criticized Trump: “Look, Trump hurt Black people every chance he got. Black unemployment, uninsurance rates went up under Trump. Trump’s tax plan reinforced discrimination. Typical white households got double the cut of the typical Black household. They botched COVID-19 response, leaving Black people dead and Black-owned businesses shuttered.” Source: Reuters
