OP EDITORIAL
HARLEM COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS
Joe Biden’s Plan for Empowering Black America By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior Correspondent @StacyBrownMedia
W
In April, he called on the Centers
tration policies that gutted fair lend-
hen former Vice Pres-
for Disease Control and Prevention,
ing and fair housing protections for
ident Joe Biden sat for
to collect more data regarding how
homeowners and giving local elected
an exclusive live stream
COVID-19 is affecting communities,
officials the tools and resources they
interview with National Newspaper
including breaking down its impacts
need to combat gentrification.
Publishers Association (NNPA) Pres-
by race.
ident and CEO, Dr. Benjamin F. Cha• Advance the economic mobility of
gests that African Americans are dy-
criminatory practices in the housing
tive Democratic presidential nominee
African Americans and close the
ing from COVID-19 at a higher rate
market, and he will restore the federal
said it was crucial to secure the Black
racial wealth and income gaps.
than whites,” the campaign noted.
government’s power to enforce settle-
vote if he is to unseat President Don-
• Expand access to high-quality edu-
Now, the two-time former sec-
“Long-standing
systemic
in-
ments against discriminatory lenders.
cation and tackle racial inequity in
equalities are contributing to this dis-
Additionally, the plan calls for
our education system.
parity – including the fact that African
Biden to strengthen and expand the
ond-in-command to President Barack
• Make far-reaching investments in
Americans are more likely to be un-
Community Reinvestment Act to en-
Obama has laid out a comprehensive
ending health disparities by race.
insured and to live in communities
sure that the nation’s bank and non-
• Strengthen America’s commitment
where they are exposed to high levels
bank financial services institutions are
of air pollution.”
serving all communities.
plan for African Americans. Biden said the plan reflects many
to justice.
months of work and feedback from
• Make the right to vote and the right
local elected officials, activists, or-
to equal protection real for African
ganizations, practitioners, policy ex-
Americans.
perts, strategists, and young people.
• Address environmental justice.
Biden’s campaign continued:
Biden plans to eliminate local
“African Americans also represent
and state housing regulations that per-
an especially high percentage of the
petuate discrimination and establish
front-line workers putting themselves at
a $100 billion Affordable Housing
“Joe Biden knows that African
greater risk to sustain the economy and
Fund to construct and upgrade afford-
Americans can never have a fair shot
keep the rest of the country safe and fed
able housing Providing tax incentives
It said the Biden team looks for-
at the American Dream so long as
– and are less likely to have a job they
for the construction of more afford-
ward to hearing from everyone as
entrenched disparities are allowed to
can do from home, forcing them to make
able housing in communities that
they continue to develop the Demo-
chip away at opportunity quietly,” his
the difficult choice between their health
need it most.
crat’s vision for all of America.
campaign’s statement noted.
and a paycheck.
His campaign called the plan “a living document.”
“While there’s a lot we don’t
House “Strike Force” to partner with
noted that Biden “knows we need a
rebuild our economy in a way that fi-
yet know about COVID-19, we do
rural communities to help them access
comprehensive agenda for African
nally brings everyone along – and that
know that equitable distribution of
federal funds.
Americans with an ambition that
starts by rooting out systemic racism
resources, like testing and medical
“Today, we need a comprehen-
matches the scale of the challenge and
from our laws, our policies, our insti-
equipment, can make a difference in
sive agenda for African Americans
with a recognition that race-neutral
tutions, and our hearts.”
fighting the virus. Biden believes this
with an ambition that matches the
should be a priority, and action must
scale of the challenge and with a rec-
be taken now.”
ognition that race-neutral policies are
policies are not a sufficient response to race-based disparities.” They said the Biden Plan for Black America would:
With the novel coronavirus hitting African Americans the hardest, Biden’s plan recognizes the disparities long faced by the Black community.
Other highlights of the plan include rolling back Trump Adminis-
Vol. 25, No 22 May 28, 2020
Biden also plans to create a White
“He is running for President to
In a news release, the campaign
Harlem Community Newspapers | May 28. 2020
cial institutions accountable for dis-
vis, Jr. in February, the now presump-
ald Trump in November 2020.
6
Biden said he plans to hold finan-
“The data we’ve seen so far sug-
not a sufficient response to race-based disparities,” Biden stated.
subscription information page 18
Advertise in Harlem Community Newspapers email today: harlemnewsinc@aol.com
