In a recent interview with the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ), Vice President Kamala Harris addressed key challenges faced by Black Americans, focusing on the economy, healthcare, and misinformation from her political opponents.
Her remarks highlighted economic disparities, healthcare difficulties, and the policies of former President Donald Trump. This article evaluates Harris’s main claims, analyzing their accuracy based on available data and expert insights.
Claim 1: Trump spread misinformation about Haitian immigrants
Harris criticized Donald Trump and his running mate, Senator JD Vance, for allegedly spreading false information about Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio. She referenced Trump’s claim that immigrants were “eating residents’ pets.”
However, this specific claim about Trump remains unverified. While Trump is known for making controversial statements, there is no credible evidence or mainstream media corroboration of Harris’s assertion. It’s possible she was alluding to broader anti-immigration rhetoric, but her exact wording lacks substantiation.
Claim 2: ‘Worst unemployment since the Great Depression
Rating: False
The U.S. unemployment rate did reach 14.8% in April 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, while Trump was still in office. By the time Biden and Harris assumed their roles in January 2021, the unemployment rate had dropped to 6.4%. Although this was a significant increase from pre-pandemic levels, it was not the highest since the Great Depression; other recessions have seen higher unemployment rates.
Claim 3: ‘Lowest Black unemployment rate in generations’
Harris claimed that under the Biden administration, the U.S. has seen “the lowest Black unemployment rate in generations.”
Rating: Half True
While Black unemployment did hit a record low of 4.8% in April 2023, it had also dropped to 5.3% in September 2019 during Trump’s presidency. Therefore, while current figures are historically low, attributing the improvement solely to the Biden administration overlooks prior achievements under Trump.
Claim 4: Child tax credit reduced Black child poverty ‘by half’
Harris noted that the expansion of the Child Tax Credit under the Biden administration cut Black child poverty by half.
Rating: Mostly True
The expansion, part of the American Rescue Plan, did significantly reduce child poverty rates, including among Black children, from 17.2% in 2020 to 8.3% in 2021—a 52% decrease. However, this reduction was temporary, as child poverty rates surged again in 2022 after the expansion ended. Despite this, her claim is largely accurate for the period the tax credit was in effect.
Claim 5: 16 million jobs created under Biden
Harris stated that “over 16 million new jobs” and “over 800,000 new manufacturing jobs” were created during Biden’s tenure.
Rating: Mostly True
Since Biden took office in January 2021, approximately 15.9 million non-farm jobs have been created as of August 2024, closely aligning with Harris’s claim. The increase in manufacturing jobs was about 739,000, slightly under the 800,000 she cited. It’s essential to recognize that job creation is influenced by various factors, including global economic conditions and recovery from the pandemic.
Claim 6: Black Americans are ‘60% more likely to be diagnosed with diabetes’
Harris asserted that Black Americans are “60 percent more likely to be diagnosed with diabetes” than other groups.
Rating: True
Data from the CDC supports this claim, indicating that Black adults are indeed 60% more likely to receive a diabetes diagnosis compared to non-Hispanic white adults. This disparity also affects hospitalization and mortality rates related to diabetes, underscoring the disease’s disproportionate impact on Black communities.
Claim 7: One in four Black families or individuals carry medical debt
Harris stated that “one in four Black families or individuals carry medical debt.”
Rating: Mostly True
Research from the Urban Institute and the Brookings Institution supports her claim, estimating that around 22.5% to 28% of Black households carry medical debt, closely approximating the one-in-four figure. However, some estimates, such as those from KFF, suggest a lower rate of around 13%, resulting in some variance in accuracy.
Claim 8: Black women are ‘three to four times more likely to die from childbirth’
Harris claimed that Black women are “three to four times more likely to die in connection with childbirth” than women from other demographics.
Rating: True
Black women experience disproportionately high maternal mortality rates, with the CDC reporting a rate of 49.5 deaths per 100,000 live births—nearly three times that of non-Hispanic white women. This disparity is influenced by factors such as healthcare access, racial bias, and socioeconomic inequalities.
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