Kamala Harris’ Racial Equity Initiatives Explained

Have you ever felt the sting of injustice or seen inequality? Vice President Kamala Harris gets it. She’s working hard to fix the deep-seated inequalities in our country.

The Biden-Harris team has started many programs to help racial equity and support those who are often left behind. Since 2023, people have been talking a lot about these efforts, both for and against them¹².

These efforts have sparked debate. While most Americans see the good in focusing on diversity, equity, and inclusion at work, there are many anti-DEI bills out there¹².

Yet, many companies are making progress. Most employees say their jobs offer DEI training, and most think it’s key for a good work environment¹.

Looking into Vice President Harris’ plans for racial justice, we see it’s not just about laws. It’s about making America fair and welcoming for everyone.

Racial inequities in America go way back, affecting our society and economy. Did you know that fixing these gaps could add $5 trillion to the U.S. economy in five years³? This shows how deep systemic racism and economic inequality run.

Systemic racism has been part of American history for a long time. It has blocked opportunities for many groups, like Black, Latino, Indigenous, Asian American, and Pacific Islander people³. This old discrimination still affects today’s racial gaps in many areas.

Today, racial gaps are still seen in wages, housing, and education access. Now, federal agencies are working to fix these issues³. This shows how serious people are, with 20% of voters making racial inequality their main concern in the last election⁴.

The COVID-19 pandemic made things worse for many communities. To help, plans like the LIFT the Middle Class Act offer up to $500 a month to families earning less than $100,000⁵. These efforts aim to lessen the economic blow on minority groups.

“Prevention is the most effective and cost-efficient strategy to address crime and health issues.”

Kamala Harris said this, showing why acting early is key to fighting racial inequities⁵. As we face our history of racism, understanding these issues is vital for real change and a fairer society.

Vice President Kamala Harris leads a strong equity agenda to change America’s chance for everyone. She wants to make real changes to fight racial injustice. Harris believes in making sure everyone has the same chance, no matter their background.

The push for racial equity in America has a long history. It started with the 13th Amendment ending slavery and the Civil Rights Act of 1964 stopping discrimination. Harris is building on this history with new policies to fix ongoing issues.

Harris’ efforts have made a big difference. Black wealth has grown by 60% since before the pandemic, and 2.6 million jobs have been created for Black workers. This has led to the lowest Black unemployment rate ever⁶. These changes show how focused policies can help racial justice.

“Diversity, equity, and inclusion are not just buzzwords – they’re fundamental American values tied to the notion of the American Dream.”

The Vice President also focuses on education, healthcare, and helping people financially. She has gotten $130 billion for schools and made healthcare coverage for new moms last up to a year in 43 states. This helps more women, aiming to make things fair for everyone⁶⁷.

Even with obstacles and criticism, Harris keeps pushing for her equity goals. She knows fixing deep-rooted racism takes hard work and big steps. Harris wants to make America where your race or background doesn’t limit your chances or success.

Kamala Harris’ racial equity initiatives aim to tackle systemic inequalities in many areas. They work to bring about lasting change and give more chances to those who have been left behind.

The administration has set up economic empowerment programs to help marginalized groups. Under President Biden, over 12 million jobs were created, leading to low unemployment rates, especially for Black Americans⁸. The American Rescue Plan gave out emergency grants and investments to small businesses. This helped create the most equitable economic recovery ever⁸.

Education equity is a big part of Harris’ plans. The administration gave $39 billion in aid to child care providers, helping Black women in the field⁸. This aid lowers child care costs for families and gives tax credits, making quality education more reachable.

Improving healthcare access is key to Harris’ equity plan. The Inflation Reduction Act gave $5.3 billion to farmers, with $3.1 billion helping distressed borrowers⁸. This support also goes to healthcare, making sure everyone has fair access to medical services.

Harris’ plans also focus on criminal justice reform. Even though there’s not much data, the administration is committed to equity in all areas, including justice. They aim for fair treatment and equal chances for everyone, no matter their background.

These efforts show a full plan for racial equity. Over 90 federal agencies released Equity Action Plans in 2022, and 23 updated their plans with more than 100 new promises in 2023⁹. The administration is taking real steps towards a more fair America.

Kamala Harris’ racial equity initiatives have both chances and obstacles. The Biden-Harris administration has started several plans to tackle systemic inequalities. These include the National Strategy on Gender Equity and Equality in 2021 and the U.S. Strategy on Global Women’s Economic Security in 2023¹⁰.

One main focus is doing equity assessments in federal agencies. This helps find barriers that stop equal access to benefits and services. The administration is also working on giving more resources to underserved communities. This includes helping with job access, care infrastructure, and starting businesses for women¹⁰.

Policy implementation has its challenges. Not having enough data on certain groups, like LGBT individuals, makes it hard to develop strategies. In fact, in over 70 countries, being LGBT is still a crime¹⁰. This lack of data makes it hard to know what needs to be done and how to measure progress.

Another challenge is deciding what to prioritize in policy implementation. Mainstreaming gender is important, but it hasn’t closed the gaps in areas like infrastructure, education, and healthcare¹⁰. The administration needs to focus on making real changes to see progress.

“Prioritization is crucial for ensuring new strategies lead to concrete improvements in gender equity and equality.”

Despite the challenges, the Biden-Harris administration has made progress. Their efforts have helped women enter male-dominated fields, improve their digital skills, and get better care infrastructure¹⁰. But, it’s still unclear how long it will take to really close the gender gaps, showing that this work is ongoing.

Federal agencies are key in making sure everyone gets fair access to government help and resources. They work hard to fix long-standing unfairness and build a fairer society.

Federal agencies check for barriers faced by those who are not well-represented. These checks show where we need to make things better. For instance, FEMA has a plan to make emergency management fairer¹¹. This means that those who are most at risk get the support they need in emergencies.

How we share resources is important for fairness. The Department of Transportation has a $4 billion grant for low-income areas¹². The Treasury Department has also put $9 billion into helping banks in low-income areas¹². These moves help close the gap between those who have less and those who have more.

It’s important that everyone can get government benefits without trouble. Agencies have made it easier to get into and stay in programs¹¹. They’re also working on ending discrimination in housing, making the environment safer, and fixing health issues¹³. These actions show they’re serious about making a fairer society for everyone.

“Equity is not just an ideal; it’s a necessity for a thriving nation. When we lift up underserved communities, we all rise together.”

Kamala Harris’ racial equity plans have started a big debate. Civil rights groups support her, seeing her efforts as key to fixing deep-seated inequalities. But, these plans have also faced strong pushback, especially from conservative groups who think they go too far.

Many civil rights supporters see Harris as a trailblazer. Being the first woman, first Black woman, and first person of South Asian descent in the running, she represents progress for many¹⁴. Her campaign has raised $100 million and gained over 58,000 volunteers, showing strong support¹⁵.

Critics, mainly from the right, call Harris a “DEI hire,” suggesting her choice was for diversity goals, not her skills¹⁴. Some, like Charles Gasparino, believe DEI programs harm businesses and worry Harris’ presidency would spread them further¹⁶. This has led to laws in some states aiming to limit or ban DEI programs¹⁶.

The debate on Harris’ plans has made the discussion on race and fairness in America more intense. Former President Trump has promised to reverse diversity efforts, saying they promote “anti-white feeling.”¹⁶ Democrats feel pushed to back Harris because of her background, according to some Republicans¹⁵. This shows how deeply divided public opinion on DEI and racial fairness is, affecting the political debate in the U.S.

1. What is DEI? Republicans are using the term to attack Kamala Harris, but experts say it’s widely misunderstood | CNN Politics – https://www.cnn.com/2024/07/24/politics/dei-kamala-harris/index.html
2. Unpacking the “DEI Hire” Attacks on Kamala Harris – Equity In The Center – https://equityinthecenter.org/unpacking-the-dei-hire-attacks-on-kamala-harris/
3. Executive Order On Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government | The White House – https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/01/20/executive-order-advancing-racial-equity-and-support-for-underserved-communities-through-the-federal-government/
4. A fitting legacy for George Floyd: Vice President Kamala Harris – https://www.brookings.edu/articles/a-fitting-legacy-for-george-floyd-vice-president-kamala-harris/
5. In Pitch For President, Sen. Kamala Harris Focuses On Criminal Justice, Inequality – https://www.npr.org/2019/03/14/702707072/in-her-pitch-for-president-kamala-harris-focuses-on-criminal-justice-inequality
6. FACT SHEET: The Biden-Harris Administration Advances Equity and Opportunity for Black Americans and Communities Across the Country | The White House – https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2024/02/06/fact-sheet-the-biden-⁠harris-administration-advances-equity-and-opportunity-for-black-americans-and-communities-across-the-country-2/
7. Kamala Harris and the Issue with “DEI” Labels – https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/kamala-harris-issue-dei-labels-porter-braswell-dfkye
8. FACT SHEET: The Biden-⁠Harris Administration Advances Equity and Opportunity for Black Americans and Communities Across the Country | The White House – https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2023/02/27/fact-sheet-the-biden-⁠harris-administration-advances-equity-and-opportunity-for-black-americans-and-communities-across-the-country/
9. Advancing Equity and Racial Justice Through the Federal Government | The White House – https://www.whitehouse.gov/equity/
10. The Biden-Harris administration’s gender strategies and policies: Strengths, challenges, and opportunities – https://www.brookings.edu/articles/the-biden-harris-administrations-gender-strategies-and-policies-strengths-challenges-and-opportunities/
11. Equity – https://www.fema.gov/emergency-managers/national-preparedness/equity
12. White House outlines federal government efforts on equity – UPI.com – https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2024/02/14/racial-equity-federal-government-Biden/3981707913162/
13. Biden-Harris Administration Unveils Ambitious Plans for Equity and Racial Justice Across Federal Agencies – https://www.washingtoninformer.com/biden-harris-equity-action-plans/
14. Republican leaders urge party members against racist and sexist attacks on Harris – https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/republican-leaders-urge-party-members-against-racist-and-sexist-attacks-on-harris
15. Kamala Harris faces racial ‘DEI’ attacks amid campaign for the 2024 presidency – https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/kamala-harris-faces-racial-dei-attacks-amid-campaign/story?id=112196464
16. Opinion: Calling Kamala Harris a ‘DEI hire’ is what bigotry looks like | CNN – https://www.cnn.com/2024/07/07/opinions/kamala-harris-dei-hire-racism-2024-obeidallah/index.html