Obama’s Callout to Black Men Touches a Nerve Among Democrats
WASHINGTON — Barack Obama had frank words for Black men who may be considering sitting out the election.
“Part of it makes me think that, well, you just aren’t feeling the idea of having a woman as president, and you’re coming up with other alternatives and other reasons for that,” he said Thursday to Harris-Walz campaign volunteers and officials at a field office in Pittsburgh.
America’s first Black president touched a nerve among Democrats worried about Vice President Kamala Harris’ chances of becoming the second.
Harris is counting on Black turnout in battleground states such as Pennsylvania in her tight race with Republican Donald Trump, who has focused on energizing men of all races and tried to make inroads with Black men in particular.
Obama’s comments reveal that Black men still overwhelmingly back Harris. However, her campaign and allies have worked diligently to secure support from this critical group of voters while addressing concerns that may stem from misogyny.
Black Americans are the most Democratic-leaning racial demographic in the country, with Black men being outpaced only by Black women in their support for Democrats.
A recent poll indicated that about 7 in 10 Black voters had a favorable view of Harris, preferring her leadership to that of Trump on several major policy issues including the economy, health care, abortion, immigration, and the war between Israel and Hamas.
There was little difference in support for Harris between Black men and Black women.
Khalil Thompson, co-founder and executive director of Win With Black Men, expressed agreement with what he perceived as Obama’s broader point. “I believe President Obama is speaking to a tangible, visceral understanding of what it means for all men to relate to women in America. Calling out misogyny is not wrong,” he said. His organization raised over $1.3 million for Harris from 20,000 Black men within 24 hours following President Joe Biden’s exit from the race in July.
Win With Black Men has organized weekly calls and events aimed at bolstering Harris’ standing with Black men, focusing on combating misinformation in Black communities and emphasizing the policy priorities of Black men. Thompson highlighted the importance of economic opportunities, safe communities, social justice policies, and health care for families.
“We’re not a monolith,” Thompson stated. “However, we are just like every other American in this country who wants a good-paying job, provide for our children, participate in their lives, ensure their safety, afford groceries, save for retirement, and enjoy life.”
Harris has emphasized the need to earn the votes of Black men, stating that “they are not in our back pocket,” during a panel hosted by the National Association of Black Journalists in September. She has also engaged with various media outlets to discuss her racial identity and relevant policy issues, including a recent appearance with prominent Black media personality Charlamagne tha God.
The Harris campaign is actively reaching out to Black voters through numerous initiatives, including visits to historically Black colleges and universities, radio and TV ads targeting key states, and a get-out-the-vote push engaging Black communities, complemented by organizations like Win With Black Men.
Additionally, high-profile surrogates such as politicians, business leaders, professional athletes, and artists are being tapped to engage Black men. Former NBA star Magic Johnson highlighted the importance of mobilizing Black men, stressing the need to make them aware of the promises made by Trump’s campaign that have yet to be fulfilled.
The Trump campaign and its allies have organized events targeting Black men, conducting roundtables and bus tours through swing states to discuss issues such as the economy and traditional gender roles that may resonate with some Black men.
Concerns over Trump’s support among Black, white, and Hispanic male voters worry senior Harris campaign officials, especially as the election is increasingly viewed through gender divides, with Harris appealing more strongly to women.
However, the discussion about misogyny’s impact on some Black men’s support for Harris overlooks a broader conversation about Black men’s political engagement, asserts Philip Agnew of Black Men Build. “To be a Black man in the United States is to be invisible and hypervisible simultaneously, and neither perspective is humanizing,” he remarked.
Agnew’s organization engaged Black men in discussions across ten cities over the summer, advocating for civic engagement and progressive politics. These conversations revealed a common frustration with politics among many Black men, who also feel their perspectives are often overlooked.
“The Black men I know are incredibly concerned with the lives of our families and communities,” Agnew noted. “It’s because of an abundance of love for our sisters that we ask questions, not a lack of love.”
