WILL KAMALA HARRIS BECOME THE NEXT PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES? MOST BLACK WOMEN ARE DOING EVERYTHING THEY CAN TO MAKE IT A REALITY. (PHOTO BY MARLON MARTIN)
THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION — LESS THAN 30 DAYS AWAY
While there were about 300 people in the house inside the Philip Chosky Theater at Carnegie Mellon University glued to Vice President and Democratic Presidential Nominee Kamala Harris’ every word on Sept. 25, one couldn’t miss the presence of Pittsburgh’s Black women throughout the crowd.
From former Wilkinsburg Mayor Marita Garrett, to Vibrant Pittsburgh president and CEO Sabrina Saunders Mosby, to Homeless Children’s Education Fund CEO Ardana “AJ” Jefferson, to former Pittsburgh City Councilwoman Valerie McDonald- Roberts, it’s not a stretch to say that most Black women in Pittsburgh are in full support of Kamala Harris.
BLACK WOMEN LIKE VALERIE MCDONALD-ROBERTS AND CRYSTAL MCCORMICK WARE were in attendance for Kamala Harris’ speech at Carnegie Mellon University, Sept. 25. (Photo by Marlon Martin)
In unison, they applauded as Harris outlined her economic plan if she were to become the next president of these United States. In short, she plans to make the rich and wealthy in this country “pay their fair share” in taxes, in hopes of building up the country’s middle class. She said her opponent, former president Donald Trump, wants to do the opposite.
KAMALA HARRIS WAVES TO THE CROWD AT CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITY, SEPT. 25, 2024. (PHOTOS BY MARLON MARTIN)
“Every day, millions of Americans are sitting around their own kitchen tables and facing their own financial pressures because, over the past several decades, our economy has grown better and better for those at the very top and increasingly difficult for those trying to attain, build and hold on to a middle-class life,” Harris told the people at the Sept. 25 event that was hosted by the Economic Club of Pittsburgh. “I want Americans and families to be able to not just get by, but be able to get ahead. To be able to thrive. I don’t want you to have to worry about making your monthly rent if your car breaks down. I want you to be able to save up for your child’s education, to take a nice vacation from time to time. I want you to be able to buy Christmas presents for your loved ones without feeling anxious when you’re looking at your bank statement. I want you to be able to build some wealth, not just for yourself, but also for your children and your grandchildren—intergenerational wealth.”
KAMALA HARRIS, IN PITTSBURGH, SEPT. 25, 2024.
Harris said that under her plan, more than 100 million Americans would get a “middle-class tax break” that includes $6,000 for new parents during the first year of their child’s life, “to help families cover everything from car seats to cribs,” she said. Harris also said she would cut the cost of child care and elder care, “and finally give all working people access to paid leave, which will help everyone caring for children, caring for aging parents, and that sandwich generation, which is caring for both.”
ORLANA DARKINS-DREWERY
As other Black women in the audience like Pittsburgh Public Schools employee and Brashear High School girls basketball coach Ruthie Walker and New Pittsburgh Courier sales director Ashley Johnson looked on, Harris really got the crowd going when she announced she would help first-time homebuyers with a $25,000 down payment assistance.
KATHY FITZGERALD, SABRINA SAUNDERS MOSBY
“Because the goal is clear: Let’s help more Americans afford to buy a home, which we know is a critical step in their ability to grow their wealth and intergenerational wealth,” Harris said.
RICHARD TAYLOR, MARIMBA MILLIONES
And for those soon-to-be small business owners in the house, Harris made their day, too. Harris said that on average, it costs about $40,000 to start a new business, but the current tax deduction for start-ups is only $5,000.
“Well, in 2024, it is almost impossible to start a business on $5,000, which is why, as president, I will make the start-up deduction 10 times richer and we will raise it from $5,000 to $50,000…and provide low- and no-interest loans to small businesses that want to expand, all of which will help achieve our ambitious, some would say — but that’s okay; let’s be ambitious — our ambitious goal of 25 million new small-business applications by the end of my first term. I know this is very achievable.”
In Pittsburgh, while not exactly America’s hub for Black small businesses, there are those like CobblerWorld, Hysyde Lounge, Showcase BBQ, Vickey’s Soul Grill and RnD Strategies among the roughly 250 Black businesses in the region. Harris’ plan would help not only current businesses, but Blacks in Pittsburgh who are ready to take that jump to entrepreneurship.
MARITA GARRETT, MEGAN WINTERS
“Kamala represents so many of us. Her background comes from the working class, a single mother,” voiced Garrett, the former Wilkinsburg mayor and current president and CEO of Civically Inc. Garrett can relate to Harris, as Garrett was raised by a single mother, Beverly Garrett, in Akron, Ohio.
“My mom was a single mom, but she put her investment in my education because no one can ever take education from someone,” Garrett told the New Pittsburgh Courier exclusively. “The middle class is almost extinct. The gap between the rich and poor keeps getting wider and wider. (Harris’ plan means that) everyone actually has a fighting chance. She is going to bolster up the middle class.”
Garrett, 38, said that seeing Harris on this stage, weeks from possibly becoming the first Black woman president in U.S. history, makes her “so proud, so awe-inspiring. And also, that she truly is the best candidate for this role.”
Mosby, a graduate of Oakland Catholic High School, said that Harris spoke to the issues that she cared about most — Mosby’s ability to thrive, her ability to raise her family or build a business.
“I think about my family’s future, but also the people that I care about that are underrepresented and don’t always have access. That’s really important to me and I think (Harris’ message) was received really well,” Mosby told the Courier.
DR. SHANNON WATSON, DENISE MEYERS (PHOTOS BY MARLON MARTIN)
Denise Meyers attended the Harris event on Sept. 25 with her daughter, Dr. Shannon Watson. Meyers called the speech and event “wonderful. I could not be more blessed by it. I am thankful that we have a chance to see a woman like Kamala represent us and talk to us as Pittsburghers about the economy.”
Dr. Watson, who works with Healthy Start Pittsburgh, said that “knowing there’s going to be tax credits for people giving birth” would be a game-changer in stimulating the economy. Dr. Watson also told the Courier that Harris’ plan for those wanting to start businesses was an excellent plan.
“People who have dreams and want to come outside of just having a boss and want to be a boss,” Dr. Watson said. “I loved that.”