In a recent interview with the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ), Vice President Kamala Harris discussed critical issues facing Black Americans, with particular emphasis on the economy, healthcare, and misinformation spread by her political opponents.
Her statements drew attention to economic disparities, healthcare challenges, and the policies of her predecessor, Donald Trump. This article examines Harris’s key claims, scrutinizing their accuracy based on available data and expert analysis.
Claim 1: Trump spread misinfo about Haitian immigrants
During her interview, Harris condemned former President Donald Trump and his running mate, Senator JD Vance, for allegedly spreading misinformation regarding Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio. Trump reportedly claimed in a debate that immigrants were "eating residents' pets" in the Midwestern state.
This claim about Trump appears unverified. Trump has been known for making inflammatory statements, but the specific allegation Harris mentioned lacks credible reporting or corroboration from mainstream media. It is possible that Harris was referring to broader anti-immigration rhetoric, but the exact phrasing she cited remains unsubstantiated.
Claim 2: 'Worst unemployment since the great depression'
Harris stated that when she and President Joe Biden took office, they inherited "the worst unemployment since the Great Depression."
Rating: False.
While the U.S. unemployment rate indeed spiked to 14.8% in April 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Trump was still in office at the time. By the time Biden and Harris assumed office in January 2021, unemployment had fallen to 6.4%, which was significant but not the worst since the Great Depression. Recessions in the 1980s and during the Great Recession in 2008 saw higher unemployment rates at different points.
Claim 3: 'Lowest black unemployment rate in generations'
Harris said that under the Biden administration, the U.S. has seen "the lowest Black unemployment rate in generations."
Rating: Half True.
While it's true that Black unemployment reached a record low of 4.8% in April 2023, the rate had previously been low under Trump as well, dropping to 5.3% in September 2019. Thus, while Black unemployment is historically low, the improvement spans both the Trump and Biden administrations, and calling it the lowest in “generations” overlooks Trump’s achievement in this area.
Claim 4: Child tax credit reduced black child poverty ‘by half’
Harris highlighted that the Biden administration's expansion of the Child Tax Credit reduced Black child poverty by half.
Rating: mostly true.
The expanded Child Tax Credit, part of the American Rescue Plan, did indeed lead to a significant drop in child poverty, including Black child poverty, which fell from 17.2% in 2020 to 8.3% in 2021, representing a 52% decrease. However, this progress was temporary. Once the expansion expired, child poverty rates surged again in 2022. Despite this, Harris's claim is largely accurate when reflecting the period of the tax credit's implementation.
Claim 5: 16 Million jobs created under Biden
Harris said, "As of today, we have created over 16 million new jobs, over 800,000 new manufacturing jobs."
Rating: mostly true.
Since Biden took office in January 2021, non-farm employment increased by approximately 15.9 million jobs as of August 2024, nearing Harris’s 16 million claim. Manufacturing jobs rose by around 739,000, slightly below the 800,000 figure she cited. However, it’s important to note that job creation numbers are influenced by factors beyond presidential policies, including global economic conditions and post-pandemic recovery.
Claim 6: Black people are ‘60pc more likely to be diagnosed with diabetes’
Harris asserted that Black Americans are “60 percent more likely to be diagnosed with diabetes” compared to other groups.
Rating: True.
According to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Black adults are 60% more likely to be diagnosed with diabetes compared to non-Hispanic white adults. The disparity also extends to hospitalizations and death rates related to diabetes, highlighting the disproportionate impact of the disease on Black communities.
Claim 7: One in four black families or individuals carry medical debt
Harris said that “one in four Black families or individuals carry medical debt.”
Rating: Mostly True.
Research from various sources, including the Urban Institute and the Brookings Institution, supports Harris’s claim. Estimates show that approximately 22.5% to 28% of Black households carry medical debt, which is close to the one-in-four figure. However, some estimates, such as those from the healthcare research group KFF, report a lower rate of around 13%, leading to a slight variation in accuracy.
Claim 8: Black women are ‘three to four times more likely to die from childbirth’
Harris stated that Black women in the U.S. are “three to four times more likely to die in connection with childbirth” than other women.
Rating: True.
Black women face disproportionately high maternal mortality rates in the U.S., with the CDC reporting a rate of 49.5 deaths per 100,000 live births – nearly three times higher than for non-Hispanic white women. Several factors contribute to this, including disparities in healthcare access, racial bias, and socio-economic inequalities.
