Building an America Where Black Men Can Win

At the National Urban League, we spend every day fighting for a future in which Black America has access to job and education opportunities, housing, healthcare, and civil rights protections that bring us closer to achieving the American dream.

Much of that work, while not centered on any specific group, benefits Black men's outcomes. Workforce programs like the Urban Apprenticeship Readiness Program and the Urban Reentry Jobs Program provide opportunities for men in communities across the country to create a better life and economic stability for themselves and their families.

Programs like Advancing Black Entrepreneurs and our Financial Empowerment Center help us build businesses and capital to invest in our futures and communities. 

But this work isn’t done alone. We are building a future where Black men, women, and families can thrive with the help of partners, including candidates who are aligned with our mission to empower and uplift Black and Brown communities.

In many ways, this election and its outcomes will shape if and how we can continue striving toward progress and opportunity. See where the presidential candidates stand on key issues that matter to you and your loved ones: 

Harris-Walz on the Economy, Jobs, Business Owners, Housing, and Formerly Incarcerated People 

  • 1 million loans of up to $20,000 that can be entirely forgivable to Black entrepreneurs and others who have strong ideas to start businesses (AP)

  • Pledging to expand existing federal programs that forgive some educational loans for public service to further encourage more Black male teachers. She also wants to use organizations like the National Urban League, local governments, and the private sector to expand apprenticeships and credentialing opportunities in Black communities. (AP)

  • Backs a regulatory framework meant to better protect investors in cryptocurrency and other digital assets, which are popular with Black men (AP)

  • Pledges to create a national initiative to fund better efforts to detect, research, and combat sickle cell disease, diabetes, prostate cancer, mental health challenges, and other health issues that disproportionately affect Black men (AP)

  • Provide first-time home buyers with a $10,000 tax credit (AP)

  • Supports a 5 percent limit on rent increases for landlords who own more than 50 units over the next two years. (This would cover over 20 million units across the country.) (White House)

  • As VP, Harris announced a new SBA rule change to improve pathways to entrepreneurship for formerly incarcerated individuals by eliminating SBA capital program restrictions on Americans who have completed their sentences for past crimes, including Americans on parole and probation (CBC)

  • Issued regulations to make it easier for system-impacted people to obtain housing
     

Trump-Vance on the Economy, Jobs, Business Owners, Housing, and Formerly Incarcerated People 

  • Trump’s proposed 60% tax on Chinese imports and his high-end 20% tariff on everything else would, in combination, impose an after-tax loss on a typical American household of $2,600 a year. (AP)

  • Donald Trump has suggested that “one rough hour” of law enforcement action would tamp down retail theft, an echo of his longstanding support for more aggressive and potentially violent policing. (AP)

  • On the campaign trail, former President Donald Trump said several times that he would shut down the Department of Education if he returned to the White House. The Department of Education also distributes about $30 billion annually to low-income college students via the Pell grant program and manages the $1.6 trillion student loan portfolio. (CNN)

  • The first Trump administration approved a range of changes from states, including charging premiums up to 5% of family income, locking out enrollees who hadn’t paid premiums, and eliminating retroactive eligibility to new enrollees. (Healthline)

  • While president, Trump tried to repeal the ACA several times and cut funding for marketing and outreach for ACA programs, leading to decreased enrollment. (Healthline)=

  • During the current campaign, Trump has promised to replace the ACA with a system that is “much better, stronger, and far less expensive.” However, he has not offered any specifics about how he would accomplish this other than stating he had “concepts of a plan” at the September 10 presidential debate. (Healthline)

  • In his first term, Trump zeroed in on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the two government-sponsored enterprises (GSEs) underpinning the U.S. housing finance system. In the wake of the 2008 housing crisis, Fannie and Freddie were placed under government conservatorship to help stabilize the market. Trump has advocated for taking the GSEs out of conservatorship, which could lead to more competition in the mortgage market and minimize taxpayer exposure, Killmer of the MBA says. It could also raise mortgage costs, says Chen Zhao, senior manager of Economics at real estate brokerage Redfin. (Bankrate)

This November, the choice is yours. Will you stand with the National Urban League and cast your vote to build an America for all of us?

You can vote early in your state, request a mail-in ballot, or plan to vote in person on Tuesday, November 5th.

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