Election 2024: What Policies Are Ignoring Black Communities Again?
Why do Black communities remain an afterthought in American politics, even as their votes often decide elections? As the 2024 election looms, political campaigns are filled with promises and policy proposals. Yet, a troubling pattern persists: the systemic neglect of Black communities in substantive policy making. Despite their pivotal role in shaping electoral outcomes, Black Americans are too often left out of the conversation when it comes to crafting policies that address their unique challenges.
This isn’t just a political misstep—it’s a failure of leadership and a betrayal of a voting bloc that has consistently driven change in America. From economic inequality and housing disparities to criminal justice reform and voting rights, the policies that matter most to Black communities are frequently sidelined or diluted. So, as candidates court voters with catchy slogans and ambitious platforms, it’s worth asking: What policies are once again ignoring Black communities?
1. Economic Inequality: Promises Without Progress
Every election cycle includes promises to close the wealth gap, create jobs, and uplift disadvantaged communities. Yet, Black Americans remain disproportionately impacted by poverty and unemployment. In 2024, many candidates are touting tax reforms, business incentives, and job creation strategies, but few are addressing the systemic barriers that have left Black communities economically marginalized.
Black entrepreneurs, for example, still struggle to access capital, with Black-owned businesses receiving only a fraction of venture capital funding compared to their white counterparts. Wage disparities persist, and the racial wealth gap remains as stark as ever. Policies that ignore these realities fail to provide the targeted solutions necessary to create real change.
What’s Missing?
- Policies to increase funding for Black-owned businesses, including grants and low-interest loans.
- Comprehensive plans to address wage disparities through transparency and enforcement of equal pay laws.
- Investments in workforce training programs focused on industries with high growth potential.
2. Housing Inequities: A Crisis Left Unaddressed
Housing policy is a cornerstone of economic stability, yet it often overlooks the unique challenges faced by Black communities. Redlining may no longer be legal, but its effects linger, with Black families still more likely to live in underfunded neighborhoods with limited access to resources. In 2024, many candidates have proposed plans for affordable housing, but these policies rarely tackle the root causes of housing inequities.
Black families are also disproportionately impacted by rising rents, predatory lending practices, and displacement caused by gentrification. Despite these challenges, few candidates are addressing the systemic barriers to homeownership or the need for targeted protections against housing discrimination.
What’s Missing?
- Federal programs to address the racial homeownership gap, including down payment assistance for first-time Black homebuyers.
- Stronger enforcement of anti-discrimination laws in housing and lending practices.
- Policies to combat gentrification and protect long-term residents from displacement.
3. Criminal Justice Reform: Rhetoric Without Results
Criminal justice reform has been a hot-button issue in recent elections, but meaningful change remains elusive. Black Americans are disproportionately affected by over-policing, harsh sentencing laws, and the school-to-prison pipeline. While many candidates mention criminal justice reform in their platforms, few are proposing bold, actionable policies to address these systemic issues.
The 2024 election sees some candidates touting plans to reduce incarceration rates or legalize marijuana, but these proposals often lack the specificity needed to tackle the root causes of racial disparities in the criminal justice system. For Black communities, superficial reforms are not enough—they need transformative change.
What’s Missing?
- Comprehensive plans to end cash bail, which disproportionately impacts low-income Black individuals.
- Investments in community-based alternatives to policing and incarceration.
- Federal legislation to expunge nonviolent drug offenses and restore voting rights to formerly incarcerated individuals.
4. Voting Rights: A Persistent Battle
Black communities have historically been at the forefront of the fight for voting rights, yet voter suppression continues to threaten their political power. From restrictive voter ID laws to the purging of voter rolls, Black voters face systemic barriers to participating in the democratic process. Despite the urgency of this issue, many candidates in the 2024 election have failed to prioritize voting rights in their platforms.
The 2023 Supreme Court decision that weakened Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act has made it even harder to challenge discriminatory voting laws. Without federal action, the erosion of voting rights will only continue, further silencing the voices of Black communities.
What’s Missing?
- Comprehensive voting rights legislation to restore the full protections of the Voting Rights Act.
- Policies to expand access to voting, including universal mail-in ballots and extended early voting periods.
- Federal oversight to prevent voter suppression tactics like gerrymandering and polling place closures.
5. Healthcare Disparities: Overlooked and Underfunded
Healthcare inequities disproportionately affect Black communities, with Black Americans experiencing higher rates of chronic illnesses, maternal mortality, and lack of access to quality care. The COVID-19 pandemic laid bare these disparities, yet many of the healthcare proposals in the 2024 election cycle fail to address them.
While some candidates advocate for expanded healthcare coverage, few are proposing targeted measures to reduce racial disparities in healthcare outcomes. Black communities need policies that go beyond access and address the systemic factors that contribute to these inequities.
What’s Missing?
- Increased funding for community health centers in underserved areas.
- Training programs to address implicit bias among healthcare providers.
- Expanded access to mental health services, particularly for communities disproportionately affected by trauma and systemic inequities.
How to Center Black Communities in Policy
To stop the cycle of neglect, candidates must move beyond surface-level promises and develop policies that genuinely address the needs of Black communities. Here’s how:
- Engage with Black Communities
Policy development must start with listening to the people most affected. Candidates should actively engage with Black leaders, activists, and community members to understand their priorities and craft responsive solutions. - Invest in Equity
Policies must be designed to address systemic inequities, not just treat symptoms. This means allocating resources specifically for Black communities and measuring the impact of policies on racial disparities. - Hold Leaders Accountable
Voters must demand transparency and accountability from candidates. What are their concrete plans for addressing issues like economic inequality, housing, and healthcare? Empty rhetoric is no longer acceptable.
The Stakes in 2024
The 2024 election is a critical moment for Black communities and for America as a whole. The policies crafted—or ignored—during this cycle will shape the future for millions. By continuing to sideline the needs of Black Americans, leaders risk deepening inequalities and missing the opportunity to build a more just and equitable society.
The question isn’t just what policies are ignoring Black communities—it’s why this pattern persists and what we, as voters and citizens, are willing to do to change it. Black communities deserve more than lip service. They deserve policies that recognize their contributions, address their challenges, and invest in their futures. Only then can America truly live up to its promise of liberty and justice for all.