President Biden on Wednesday addressed some of the most pressing issues facing Black Americans, including inflation, abortion and overall dissatisfaction with the Democratic Party.
In an interview with BET’s Ed Gordon, Biden said he has to “point out” what’s at stake and what Republicans hope to do if former President Trump wins back the White House.
“It’s important that people know that they’re respected, know that they’re taken care of,” said Biden. “We’re going to change this, but it’s going to take time. We got to stay at it.”
Biden fielded questions from Gordon about how he plans to fulfill promises he is making on the campaign trail, such as reinstating the right to abortion.
Biden promised that even if the Supreme Court chooses not to reinstate Roe v. Wade, he will lean on his Democratic colleagues in the House and Senate.
“All we got to do is get 51 of those members of the House and Senate and say, ‘This is it.’ And then I’ll sign that bill,” Biden said.
Biden, who is working to rebuild the Black voter coalition that sent him to the White House in 2020, hit on where his administration has succeeded in fulfilling making changes for Black Americans.
Some of these successes included symbolic steps, such as recognizing Juneteenth as a federal holiday, while others directly impact Black Americans across the nation.
“Take a look how unemployment is the lowest it has been. Take a look at how many jobs are created,” said Biden. “Take a look at how many people are able to get to college education, now the debt is wiped out. Take a look at what’s actually happening on the ground. Take a look at the fight that’s going on.”
However, Gordon pushed back on the president when Biden spoke of building equity through homeownership and his father.
“We build equity by homeownership. That’s how middle-class white guys did it. That’s how my dad was able to buy a home,” Biden said.
“But you do appreciate that the standard for your dad and for any white man in this country is vastly different than that of African American men?” Gordon asked.
Biden quickly responded that he does — but that he also appreciates that his father was a working-class man and that his family’s home was a multigenerational one with him, his parents and grandparents all under one roof.
Gordon closed out his line of questioning by asking Biden to address Black voters directly.
“The enthusiasm this time around is not the same as the last time you won,” Gordon said. “There is a certain disenchantment. Detroit, Philadelphia, Atlanta are going to be deciding factors in that 270 you’ve got to get to. I’d like you to take a moment and tell Black America what you want them to know: Why should they turn out for you?”
“Because you know where my heart is,” Biden responded.