Lift Every Voice: The Biden Plan for Black America

Table of Contents

The Biden Plan for Black America, released during the 2020 presidential campaign, sets forth an ambitious vision to address systemic inequalities and provide meaningful reforms to the issues that disproportionately affect African Americans. Joe Biden’s plan promises to tackle the many problems with long-standing roots in racial injustice, from economic disparities and educational inequities to criminal justice reform and healthcare access. Its comprehensive initiative aims to provide African Americans with the tools and opportunities needed to succeed while working to undo the harms of historical discrimination.

The plan outlines specific policy changes and funding allocations to promote racial equity and improve Black Americans' quality of life. By investing in infrastructure, healthcare, education, and economic empowerment, the plan seeks to transform the social fabric of Black communities across the country. This article will delve into the core elements of the Biden Plan for Black America and explore its potential impact on African American communities.

Closing the Racial Wealth Gap: Economic Empowerment for Black America

Economic empowerment is a central focus of the Biden Plan for Black America, aiming to bridge the long-standing wealth gap between Black and white Americans. For generations, systemic racism, including practices like redlining and unequal access to financial services, has hindered economic growth in Black communities. The resulting disparities have prevented many African Americans from building wealth and achieving economic stability. Biden’s plan addresses these issues through targeted investments in Black communities, promoting minority-owned businesses, and creating wealth-building opportunities.

Supporting Minority-Owned Businesses

A major challenge facing African American entrepreneurs is limited access to capital. This issue is rooted in historical discrimination that has resulted in fewer financial resources and fewer opportunities for Black business owners. Biden's plan addresses this by significantly expanding support for minority-owned businesses. Key strategies include:

Expanding Access to Capital: One of the first steps in empowering Black-owned businesses is ensuring that entrepreneurs have access to the necessary capital to start or grow their companies. Biden proposes expanding avenues for Black entrepreneurs to secure loans and grants. It includes funding initiatives such as the State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI), which allocates federal funds to local programs that provide financial support to small businesses in underserved areas.
Federal Contracting Opportunities: The U.S. government spends hundreds of billions on contracts annually. Biden’s plan seeks to ensure that minority-owned businesses have fair access to these opportunities. It would involve improving transparency and accountability in federal procurement processes, ensuring that minority-owned businesses are not left out of lucrative contracts simply because of discriminatory practices. Expanding these opportunities can lead to economic growth and job creation within Black communities.
Business Incubators and Mentorship Programs: Many Black entrepreneurs face barriers in navigating the complexities of starting and managing a successful business. Biden's plan includes the creation of business incubators and mentorship programs designed explicitly for minority entrepreneurs. These initiatives will give Black business owners access to essential resources such as expert advice, networking opportunities, and the tools needed to succeed in today’s competitive market. By empowering African American entrepreneurs with the knowledge and support to thrive, Biden’s plan seeks to create a new generation of successful Black business owners.

Housing and Wealth Building: A Path to Financial Security

The wealth gap between Black and white Americans is also closely tied to disparities in homeownership. Historically, discriminatory practices like redlining and racially biased lending have denied Black families the opportunity to own homes, which has prevented them from building the equity necessary for long-term financial stability. Biden's plan seeks to remedy this by making housing more accessible and promoting homeownership as a key tool for wealth-building. Key components of the plan include:

Ending Discriminatory Housing Practices: Redlining, the practice of denying loans to people in predominantly Black neighborhoods, has been a significant barrier to homeownership for many Black families. Biden’s plan aims to eliminate these discriminatory practices and hold banks and lenders accountable for any biases they may have in their lending processes. Strengthening the enforcement of fair housing laws and ensuring that all Americans, regardless of their race, have an equal opportunity to purchase a home is essential to bridging the wealth gap.
Investing in Affordable Housing: Biden’s plan proposes a landmark $640 billion investment in affordable housing. This investment would expand the availability of affordable homes and provide much-needed down payment assistance to first-time homebuyers, many of whom are young Black families looking to secure their first home. Additionally, Biden’s plan calls for a focus on developing affordable housing projects in predominantly Black communities, creating a path to homeownership for those historically excluded from the housing market. Such investments will help create stable housing opportunities, leading to wealth-building for Black families.
Building Home Equity: Homeownership is one of the most effective ways for families to build wealth, as it allows individuals to accumulate equity over time. Biden’s plan focuses on increasing access to credit, especially for Black families, to help them purchase homes. The plan also includes support for housing rehabilitation programs and initiatives that make homeownership more accessible. By making it easier for Black Americans to buy homes and build equity, Biden seeks to provide long-term financial security and close the racial wealth gap.

Pathways to Wealth Creation

Biden’s comprehensive approach also focuses on creating pathways to wealth-building opportunities for Black Americans. These pathways include access to quality education, better job opportunities, and removing barriers traditionally held back economic progress in Black communities. By focusing on the root causes of economic disparities, Biden’s plan seeks to create lasting change that will help Black families build generational wealth.

Investing in Education and Job Training: Education and skills training are essential to economic empowerment. Biden’s plan advocates for increased investments in education, including funding for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and community colleges, to ensure that Black Americans have access to quality education and job training programs. These investments would help equip individuals with the skills needed to succeed in the workforce and create long-term career opportunities.
Promoting Entrepreneurship: Beyond supporting minority-owned businesses, Biden’s plan encourages entrepreneurship in underserved communities. Creating new companies fosters economic growth and job creation, which benefits entire communities. Biden’s plan emphasizes the importance of providing resources, mentorship, and access to capital to help Black entrepreneurs succeed. Its focus on entrepreneurship is critical to creating new opportunities and contributing to economic stability in Black communities.

Education: Equal Access to High-Quality Education

Education is a key pillar of the Biden Plan for Black America. Disparities in educational outcomes and access to quality education are a direct result of systemic inequalities that have long affected Black communities. Biden’s plan addresses these disparities by focusing on K-12 and higher education, ensuring that all students, regardless of race or background, can access the resources and opportunities needed to succeed.

Equitable Funding for Schools

Biden’s plan emphasizes the importance of equitable funding for public schools, particularly those in low-income and Black communities. The plan proposes several reforms to ensure that schools in underserved areas receive the funding they need to provide a high-quality education. These include:

Increasing federal funding for underfunded schools: Biden calls for more significant investment in Title I funding, which supports schools that serve low-income students. The plan aims to close the funding gap between wealthier and underfunded districts, ensuring all students can access the same educational resources.
Increasing teacher pay and recruitment: The plan advocates raising teacher salaries and investing in programs to recruit and retain a more diverse teaching workforce, ensuring that Black students have role models who reflect their backgrounds and experiences.
Addressing school safety and discipline disparities: Biden’s plan calls for reforms to address the disproportionate disciplining of Black students and ensure that schools are safe, welcoming, and inclusive environments for all students.

Higher Education and Access to College

Biden’s plan also seeks to increase access to higher education for African American students by making college more affordable and reducing student debt. His proposals include:

Tuition-free community college: Biden supports making community college tuition-free for all students, including those from low-income families. This initiative will help make higher education more accessible to Black students who might otherwise be unable to afford it.
Increased funding for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs): Biden’s plan calls for significant investments in HBCUs to help them expand their programs, improve facilities, and increase access to higher education for Black students. It includes providing more federal funding for HBCUs to ensure their sustainability and success.
Debt forgiveness and student loan reform: Biden’s plan includes measures to reduce student loan debt for African Americans disproportionately affected by student loans. It includes simplifying repayment plans and expanding debt forgiveness programs for borrowers who work in public service or underserved fields.

Criminal Justice Reform: Tackling Systemic Racism in Law Enforcement

The criminal justice system in the U.S. has long caused disproportionate harm to Black communities, with systemic issues such as police violence, mass incarceration, and sentencing disparities. These problems have led to racial injustices, affecting the lives of countless individuals. Biden’s plan seeks to reform the criminal justice system by focusing on police accountability, reducing mass incarceration, and addressing the root causes of crime in Black communities.

Police Reform and Accountability

One of the key areas of Biden’s criminal justice reform is enhancing police accountability. The goal is to reduce the use of excessive force and ensure that police officers are held accountable for any misconduct. The plan includes several essential measures, including:

Banning chokeholds and no-knock warrants: These dangerous practices have disproportionately affected Black communities. By banning chokeholds and no-knock warrants, Biden aims to minimize violence and protect citizens from unnecessary harm.
Creating national standards for policing: The plan calls for national standards on police use of force. These standards would ensure consistency and accountability across the country. Additionally, Biden proposes the creation of a national database to track police misconduct, making it easier to identify and address problematic officers.
Investing in community policing: Biden’s plan stresses the importance of building trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve. By investing in community-based policing, officers would be better equipped to work closely with local communities to prevent crime, address regional issues, and improve relations with residents.

Mass Incarceration and Sentencing Reform

Mass incarceration has disproportionately impacted Black Americans, contributing to cycles of poverty, family separation, and social instability. Biden's plan focuses on reforming sentencing practices and providing individuals who have been unfairly incarcerated a chance at rehabilitation and reintegration. Some of the key reforms include:

Reducing mandatory minimum sentences: Biden advocates for reducing minimum sentences for non-violent offenses. It would give judges more discretion to tailor sentences based on the circumstances of each case instead of relying on rigid sentencing laws that often result in excessive punishment.
Expunging criminal records: A significant number of Black Americans have been impacted by drug-related convictions and other non-violent offenses. Biden’s plan aims to expunge the records of those convicted of these crimes, providing them with a fresh start and the opportunity to rebuild their lives. It would also help break the cycle of recidivism and prevent formerly incarcerated individuals from being locked out of employment and housing opportunities.
Reinvestment in communities: Biden's plan recognizes the need to support communities devastated by mass incarceration. By reinvesting in these communities, the plan proposes increased funding for job training, mental health services, educational opportunities, and programs that support individuals returning from prison. These initiatives would help address the long-term impact of mass incarceration and provide formerly incarcerated individuals with the tools needed to reintegrate into society.

Addressing Systemic Inequities in the Justice System

Biden’s plan also includes addressing systemic racism in the criminal justice system by reducing racial profiling and eliminating discriminatory practices. Key actions include:

Combating racial profiling: Biden’s plan emphasizes the importance of adopting policies to reduce racial profiling by law enforcement agencies. It would ensure that people of color are not unfairly targeted or discriminated against based on their race.
Increasing transparency in the justice system: Biden’s approach calls for greater transparency in police and court proceedings. Making the justice system more open to public scrutiny would make it easier to identify and address any biases or discriminatory practices within the system.

Healthcare: Closing the Health Gap

The healthcare disparities faced by Black Americans have persisted for decades, with profound consequences for the health and well-being of the community. These disparities manifest in several ways, including higher rates of chronic diseases, limited access to healthcare services, and disproportionately poor outcomes during health crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic. The Biden administration recognizes the urgent need to tackle these inequities head-on, ensuring that Black Americans receive equitable healthcare and are not left behind in an increasingly complex healthcare system. Biden’s healthcare plan emphasizes expanding access to care, addressing the social determinants of health, and improving maternal health outcomes for Black women.

Expanding Healthcare Access

One of the central components of Biden’s plan is to increase access to affordable healthcare for Black Americans, particularly those from low-income backgrounds or in underserved communities. It is essential because access to quality healthcare directly influences health outcomes, and when access is limited, chronic conditions can worsen, leading to premature death and suffering. Biden's approach to expanding healthcare access includes several key initiatives:

Building on the Affordable Care Act (ACA): The ACA made significant strides in expanding healthcare coverage, especially for low-income individuals. However, much work still needs to be done to make healthcare more affordable and accessible. Biden’s plan seeks to strengthen and expand the ACA, making health insurance coverage more affordable and broadening the options available to Black families. It would include introducing a public health insurance option and increasing subsidies to help individuals and families afford health insurance premiums.
Expanding Medicaid: Medicaid plays a crucial role in providing healthcare coverage to low-income Americans, yet several states have still not expanded the program under the ACA. It means that millions of Black Americans are without coverage simply due to where they live. Biden’s plan includes provisions encouraging and incentivizing states to expand Medicaid, ensuring that more Black Americans needing healthcare services are covered and can access essential medical care without facing insurmountable financial barriers.
Investing in Public Health Initiatives: Black Americans experience higher rates of chronic conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, and hypertension compared to their white counterparts. Biden’s plan calls for increased investments in public health programs to address these health disparities and prevent, detect, and manage these conditions. These programs would provide Black communities with access to educational resources, screenings, and lifestyle interventions that could help prevent the onset of chronic diseases and improve overall health.
Improving Healthcare Infrastructure in Underserved Areas: Many Black communities face significant barriers to access to healthcare facilities, with some areas lacking adequate healthcare infrastructure. Biden’s plan emphasizes increasing funding for healthcare facilities in underserved communities, ensuring that Black Americans have greater access to doctors, specialists, and medical resources. This includes creating new healthcare centers and expanding existing ones to serve those who live in medically underserved areas.

Addressing Maternal Health Disparities

One of the most alarming health disparities facing Black Americans is the disproportionate maternal mortality rate among Black women. Black women are three to four times more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications than white women, a staggering disparity that reflects deep systemic issues in the healthcare system. The reasons for this inequality are complex, involving a combination of factors such as implicit bias, lack of access to quality prenatal and postnatal care, and disparities in healthcare treatment. Biden’s plan aims to reduce maternal mortality rates and ensure that Black women receive the care and attention they deserve throughout their pregnancy and childbirth experience. The initiatives to address maternal health disparities include:

Expanding Access to Prenatal and Postnatal Care: Biden’s plan calls for increasing access to comprehensive prenatal and postnatal care for Black women. This would involve ensuring that Black women have the resources, information, and healthcare providers they need to navigate pregnancy safely. Improved access to these services would help detect potential complications early, improving mothers' and babies' health outcomes. In addition, the plan includes increasing funding for maternal health programs that support Black mothers during the postpartum period, which is often overlooked in current healthcare systems.
Combating Implicit Bias and Discrimination in Healthcare: A critical aspect of addressing maternal health disparities is confronting implicit bias in healthcare settings. Studies have shown that Black women are often dismissed or not taken seriously by healthcare providers, leading to delays in diagnosis and treatment. Biden’s plan includes strategies to combat discrimination by training healthcare providers to recognize and address their biases. It would also involve establishing clear protocols for ensuring that all pregnant women, regardless of race, receive the same high-quality care and attention throughout their pregnancies.
Improving Quality of Care in Hospitals and Clinics: Improving the overall quality of maternal care in hospitals and clinics that serve Black women is essential to reducing maternal mortality rates. Biden’s plan includes funding for healthcare facilities to improve the standard of care, ensuring that pregnant Black women receive timely and effective care. Additionally, Biden supports the establishment of maternal health task forces at the state and national levels to develop best practices for reducing maternal deaths and complications in Black communities.
Ensuring Access to Safe, Respectful, and Culturally Competent Care: Black women’s experiences with healthcare systems are often shaped by cultural factors and past trauma, and many report feeling marginalized or dismissed when seeking care. Biden’s plan recognizes the importance of providing culturally competent care that respects the experiences and concerns of Black women. It would involve training healthcare professionals to approach maternal care with cultural sensitivity, ensuring that Black women feel safe, heard, and valued when seeking care.

A Path Toward Equity and Justice

The Biden Plan for Black America represents a bold vision for creating a more equitable society. By focusing on economic empowerment, education, criminal justice reform, healthcare, and housing, Biden’s plan seeks to uplift Black communities and provide them with the tools and resources to succeed. While the challenges are substantial, the plan offers a comprehensive and thoughtful approach to addressing systemic racism and building a more just and inclusive future for all Americans.

The full realization of the Biden Plan’s goals will require continued dedication, policy change, and cooperation at every level of government. However, it is a significant step toward achieving racial equity and ensuring African Americans have the opportunities and support they need to thrive today. With the right investments and political will, the vision outlined in the Biden Plan can help make lasting changes to improve the lives of Black Americans.