At a Georgia campaign event on last Friday, President Trump unveiled a $500 billion economic plan designed to boost opportunities for African Americans. President Trump pledged to increase economic opportunities for Black Americans with a $500 billion measure aimed at creating 3 million new jobs and 500,000 new black-owned businesses.
In his speech, Trump described himself as a friend to the Black community who would make investments in treatments for kidney disease, diabetes, and sickle cell. He also pledged to continue the economic gains that occurred under his administration before the coronavirus pandemic reached the US.
President Trump also pledged his support for making Juneteenth (also known as Freedom Day or Emancipation Day to commemorate the emancipation of those who had been enslaved in the United States) a national holiday, along with prosecuting the Ku Klux Klan and Antifa as terrorist organizations. Trump’s proposed plan, which purports to be built on four pillars of “opportunity, security, prosperity and fairness,” calls for a range of measures in support of the Black businesses and families. Included in the plan is a call for almost $500 billion of capital investment in the Black community, with much of it coming from increased federal contracting opportunities and other investments. He also called for 500,000 new Black businesses and 3 million jobs for Black Americans.
In addition to the economic aspects of the plan, the President’s plan proposes a range of other commitments to the Black community, including criminal justice reforms that include diversity training for police forces. He has also promised a National Clemency Program to unite families and invest in human potential, focusing on wrongful prosecution and rehabilitation.
With the US election heading its last leg, President’s announcement aims at increasing his support among African American community.