In an hour-long audio town hall with Charlamagne Tha God, Vice President Kamala Harris discussed a range of topics, including reparations, marijuana charges, and her record on the border, in an attempt to address recent polls indicating a decline in Black male support for her.
Vice President Kamala Harris engaged in an in-depth conversation with Charlamagne Tha God, co-host of the popular "Breakfast Club" radio show, covering various issues affecting Black Americans. The interview, which took the form of an audio town hall in Detroit and aired on iHeartRadio, was part of Harris' efforts to reverse a trend of declining support from Black male voters.
Charlamagne Tha God initiated the conversation by addressing criticism that Harris often appears "very scripted" in her public appearances. Harris responded by defending her approach as "discipline," emphasizing the importance of repetition to ensure that her message reaches all audiences.
Kamala Harris' Interview with Charlamagne Tha God: Addressing Black Support and Divisive Issues
"I love having conversations," Harris said. "But there are certain things that must be repeated to ensure that everyone knows what I stand for. It requires repetition. Until someone has heard the same thing at least three times, it just doesn't stay with you. So repetition is important."
Charlamagne brought up Harris' record as San Francisco District Attorney, highlighting accusations that she imprisoned thousands of Black men on drug charges. Harris strongly denied these allegations, stating that she had been the most progressive prosecutor in California on marijuana cases and had not sent people to jail for simple possession of weed.
Kamala Harris' Interview with Charlamagne Tha God: Addressing Black Support and Divisive Issues
"It's simply not true," Harris asserted. "Public defenders from those days will tell you that."
In response to a caller's question about her stance on reparations for slavery, Harris acknowledged the disparities that exist and the historical context in which they arose. She emphasized that reparations should be studied, and she expressed her intention to prioritize addressing these disparities in her agenda as President.
Kamala Harris' Interview with Charlamagne Tha God: Addressing Black Support and Divisive Issues
"On the point of reparations, it has to be studied. There's no question about that. And I've been very clear about that position in terms of my immediate plan," Harris said.
Charlamagne also challenged Harris on her record on the border, arguing that the Biden administration shares some responsibility for the current situation. Harris defended the administration's actions, stating that they had immediately introduced legislation to address the broken immigration system.
Kamala Harris' Interview with Charlamagne Tha God: Addressing Black Support and Divisive Issues
"Within hours of being inaugurated, the first bill we passed was to fix the broken immigration system, which, by the way, Trump did not fix when he was president," Harris said.
The interview with Charlamagne Tha God provided Vice President Harris an opportunity to address concerns about her declining support among Black male voters. She defended her approach, emphasized her commitment to addressing racial disparities, and highlighted the administration's efforts to tackle issues such as marijuana laws and immigration reform. The town hall's importance was underscored by President Barack Obama's recent comments urging Black male voters to support Harris, indicating the political significance of securing this demographic's support ahead of the upcoming midterm elections.
Kamala Harris' Interview with Charlamagne Tha God: Addressing Black Support and Divisive Issues
