Kamala Harris Finally Speaks About Reparations, Here’s What She Said

All of Black America was shocked when Vice President Kamala Harris sat down for an interview with one of the industry’s most polarizing radio personalities, Charlamagne tha God. But to his credit, who else could possibly pull answers out of the vice president on issues affecting the Black community like him?!

As they jumped from topics such as the economy, former President Donald Trump, and even church, Harris held her own. But there was one pressing matter Black folks finally got answers to, and that’s reparations for African Americans.

During Tuesday’s (Oct. 15) “We The People: An Audio Townhall With Kamala Harris and Charlamagne Tha God” in Detroit, Mich., the vice president said “On the point of reparations, it has to be studied, there’s no question about that.” Her response came after Detroit community leader Zeek Williams asked how will she ensure Black Americans are taken care of in the future and compensated for the past generational damages of slavery if elected president.

Although Harris also responded saying she is “running to be a president for all Americans,” she admitted to viewing this country with “clear eyes.” What does that mean exactly? Without the free labor of enslaved Black people, the United States as we all know it would cease to exist... obviously.

Harris went on to explain her plans to address these disparities through matters of the economy. “My agenda is about tapping into the ambitions and the aspirations, knowing that folks want to have an opportunity — if they want — should have a meaningful opportunity to build wealth, including intergenerational wealth,” Harris said.

“Black families are 40 percent less likely to be homeowners than others,” she continued. “Homeownership is one of the surest ways to build intergenerational wealth.”

It’s no secret that Black Americans have been asking about reparations for decades. According to the Pew Research Center, 77 percent of Black adults believe in reparations for slavery. And following the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests, the conversations surrounding reparations have only intensified.

Harris has spoken on reparations before. During her first run at the presidency in 2019, the vice president expressed her support for studying the concept of slavery reparations, according to NBC News. But now, she’s definitively stamped the need for a proper investigation — and what’s even more important is she said this in an interview with Charlamagne that’s targeted at reaching Black voters.

It’s obvious Harris is heavy on the final stretch on her campaign as she continues to reach out to Black voters. This means showing up to barbershops, talking to Black business owners, and speaking to Black media till she reaches the finish line on Election Day on Tuesday, Nov. 5.