During Joe Biden’s town hall on Thursday night, a young Black voter stood up to ask the Democratic presidential candidate about race. “May people believe the true swing voters in this election will be Black voters under 30 – not because they’re voting for Trump, but because they won’t vote at all,” said Cedric Humphrey, a student from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
“I myself have had this exact same conflict,” Humphrey continued. “So my question for you is: Besides, ‘you ain’t Black, what do you have to say to young Black voters who see voting for you as further participation in a system that continually failed to protect them?”
Biden, who participated in a separate but competing town hall from President Trump that aired on a different network, replied with a quote by his “buddy, the late civil rights icon Congressman John Lewis. “It’s a sacred opportunity, the right to vote, to make a difference,” Biden said.
He continued: “If young Black women and men vote, you could determine the outcome of this election. Not a joke. You can do that.”
ABC NEWS – 10/15/20 ABC News will host a town hall with Democratic presidential nominee and former Vice President Joe Biden on Thursday, October 15, 2020 in Philadelphia. The primetime event , “The Vice President and the People” will be moderated by ABC News Chief Anchor George Stephanopoulos will allow voters to ask questions of the candidate. The live, 90-minute special edition of 20/20 airs on ABC at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.(Photo by Heidi Gutman/ABC via Getty Images) JOE BIDEN, GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS
Heidi Gutman
“And the next question is: Am I worthy of your vote, can I earn your vote,” Biden said. He said the answer is two things he’s demonstrated he has cared about.
“One, as in addition to dealing with criminal justice system to make it fair and more decent, we have to be able to put Black Americans in a position to be able to gain wealth, generate wealth,” Biden said.
He said that this entails early education which is why he supports increasing school funding from $15 to $45 billion. “That allows every teacher in that school to make up to $60,000 bucks. And the problem now is, they’re leaving the schools, they’re not there.” Biden said.
Aside from a teacher shortage, which leads to shortcomings in education, schools should also have social workers and school psychologists. He and the Obama administration also said provided more funding to HBCUs, guaranteed first-time homebuyers a $15,000 down payment, and helped young Black entrepreneurs get startup money.
Biden also said he would focus on stopping redlining, or the practice of refusing a loan or insurance to someone because they live in an area deemed to be a poor financial risk.
“That’s what got me involved in politics in the first place, a thing called redlining,” Biden said. “We can change so much that we can do so much to change the circumstances to give people a real opportunity.”
When town hall moderator asked Humphrey if he heard everything he needed to hear, he replied “I think so.” Biden told Humphrey if he stuck around after the televised town hall, he would tell him more. He then said it is more difficult for Black Americans to accumulate wealth because “you’re behind an eight ball,” and it is more difficult for Black Americans to get a loan from a bank.
“We need to change that,” Biden said.