Kamala Harris's Black Woman Problem: Why Symbolism Alone Won't Secure Votes

Jul 22

We need to have an honest discussion about the the realities facing Kamala Harris in winning over Black women voters.

Written By EEW Magazine Political Editors

While Kamala Harris's potential candidacy for the 2024 Democratic presidential nomination could be historic, she faces significant challenges in securing the support of Black women, a crucial voting bloc. The obstacles stem from economic dissatisfaction, her political performance history, and the necessity for more than symbolic representation to inspire voter confidence.

As a journalist, I often receive numerous pitches, but the most frequent one recently has been: “Harris could become the first Black woman and first person of South Asian descent to be president.” While the significance of this cannot be overstated, the reality is that Black women need more than symbolic victories; they are seeking substantive change.

Kamala Harris is sworn in as US vice president by Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor as her husband Doug Emhoff holds the Bible during the 59th Presidential Inauguration at the US Capitol in Washington on Jan. 20, 2021. (Saul Loeb/AP/EEW Magazine)

Kamala Harris’s candidacy, if it materializes, raises concerns. The freshman senator’s previous bid for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination imploded and fell apart even before the first primary vote. Moreover, her handling of the border crisis as Vice President has been criticized. President Biden had tasked her with addressing the root causes of migration from Central America, a strategy that did not yield the desired results and has left the border situation unresolved and worse.

Tied to the Biden administration’s perceived failures, Harris, 59, must convince Black women that she can do more than talk the talk but also walk the walk and lead. Her performance history raises doubts, and the importance of race and gender, while significant, goes beyond surface-level representation.

Kelli Goff, a Black woman and writer for the Daily Beast, expressed a candid perspective: “I strongly believe a woman—a Black woman—can become president of the United States. I just don’t believe Kamala Harris can. So, while it pains me to say it, I hope she will consider following Joe Biden’s lead by putting the country first and stepping aside.”

*Vice President Kamala Harris made her first trip to the US-Mexico border in El Paso, June 2021 (Credit: Yuri Gripas/abaca/picture alliance/EEW Magazine)*

Goff underscores Harris's unlikability among Black women voters, which is a critical concern. If a Democratic candidate cannot secure strong support from Black voters, the campaign faces an uphill battle from the outset.

For decades, Black women have been a reliable voting base for the Democratic Party. However, a recent study by KFF (formerly the Kaiser Family Foundation) reveals major dissatisfaction among Black women regarding inflation and economic setbacks. The Biden-Harris administration’s economic policies have strained many, making it clear that merely highlighting Harris's symbolic candidacy will not suffice to galvanize support.

Let’s face it. Harris has been largely invisible over the past three years of the Biden administration. Although she has recently focused on reproductive rights following the overturning of Roe v. Wade—branding it the Reproductive Freedoms Tour—KFF statistics show this issue is not the top priority for Black women voters. Economic concerns, specifically inflation and the rising cost of household expenses, are paramount. About half of Black women voters identify inflation as the most critical issue for the 2024 presidential race. Other concerns, like threats to democracy, abortion, and gun policy, are significantly less pressing.

The economic distress faced by Black women is profound. Many worry about affording basic necessities such as food, utilities, healthcare, and housing. For any Democratic candidate to succeed, they must demonstrate a commitment to policies that prioritize the economic well-being of their constituents. Additionally, mobilizing Black women voters cannot be taken for granted. While older Black women are more likely to vote, younger Black women show less certainty about participating in the upcoming election.

Here's the point: If Black women do not feel adequately represented by the current Democratic leadership on issues that matter most to them, they may not support Kamala Harris or any other Democratic candidate in the fall election. Therefore, the Democratic Party must address these concerns with tangible policies and actions to secure the vital support of Black women voters.

It isn’t clear whether Harris can do this. But if her past record is any indication, she cannot.

EEW Magazine political journalists Bridgette Dixon, Jennifer Davis, Angeli Simpson, and Henrietta Parsons contributed to this article.