Opinion: Joe Biden drops out & endorses Kamala Harris. Do we owe her our vote because she's Black?

Remember when Kamala said "I’m not gonna sit here and say I’m gonna do something that’s only gonna benefit Black people".

President Joe Biden has announced his decision to drop out of the 2024 presidential race. The move move comes amid mounting pressure from within his own party and a growing chorus of voices questioning his ability to not only lead effectively, but to also beat Donald Trump.  

Biden's presidency has been marked by a series of challenges, both domestic and international.  His administration has struggled to find effective solutions to pressing issues such as the economy, immigration and crime. Critics argue that Biden's policies have exacerbated these problems, leading to a sharp decline in public confidence.

In light of these challenges and a disastrous debate performance, it is not surprising that calls for Biden to step aside had grown louder. A recent poll conducted by The New York Times found that a majority of Americans believe Biden was not up to the task of leading the country. This sentiment was shared by many within his own party as prominent Democrats publicly urged him to withdraw from the race.

Biden's decision to drop out of the 2024 election is a significant moment in American political history. It marks the first time an incumbent president has chosen not to seek re-election since Lyndon B. Johnson in 1968. The move has sparked a flurry of speculation about who will step up to fill the void and lead the Democratic Party into the future.

In a post on X, President Biden endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris to be the nominee.

As the first woman, first African American, and first Asian American to be elected Vice President of the United States, Harris has broken barriers and made history. With President Joe Biden's announcement that he will not seek reelection in 2024, attention has turned to Harris as a potential candidate for the Democratic nomination. But is she qualified to be the first black female president, and should she be the nominee?

Harris has a thin resume when it comes to executive experience. She served as a senator for just four years before becoming vice president, and her time as attorney general of California was marked by controversy and accusations of prosecutorial misconduct.

When President Joe Biden tapped Vice President Kamala Harris to lead the administration's efforts to address the root causes of migration from Central America, it was seen as a significant assignment that would test her leadership skills and ability to tackle a complex issue.

However, three years later, the border crisis had only deepened, with record numbers of migrants from all over the hemisphere overwhelming the border. This failure to secure the border has become a defining issue of the Biden-Harris administration.

Despite these criticisms, Harris has many supporters who believe she is the right person to lead the Democratic Party in 2024. Harris has been praised for her advocacy for women's rights and her efforts to address racial disparities in healthcare.

Do we owe her our vote because she's Black?

Prominent black political pundits and liberal black women have issued a stern warning to the Democratic Party: nominate Kamala Harris for president, or face significant consequences.

Sunny Hostin, co-host of "The View," has been particularly vocal on this issue. She warned that "no Democrat nominee will win without the black vote, and black women will not support Kamala Harris being...overlooked." Hostin's comments reflect a growing sentiment among some black political pundits and liberal black women that Harris's nomination is not just a matter of representation, but a matter of political survival for the Democratic Party.

Black people, I just don't think we owe Kamala Harris anything. And I don't think her Presidency is going to do any more for Black communities in the US, than her elections have done for Black people in San Francisco or for Black people in the State of California. (X user)

“So I’m not gonna sit here and say I’m gonna do something that’s only gonna benefit Black people. No. Because whatever benefits that Black family will benefit that community and society as a whole and the country, right?” - Kamala Harris

Black voters, particularly black women, have been a crucial voting bloc for the Democratic Party. In the 2020 presidential election, 91% of black women voted for Joe Biden, compared to 55% of white women. If black women were to withhold their support from the Democratic nominee in 2024, it could have a devastating impact on the party's electoral prospects.

Regardless of who ultimately emerges as the Democratic nominee, it is clear that the party faces an uphill battle in the 2024 election.