By Defender News Service
In an exclusive telephone interview with the National Newspaper Association, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre underscored President Biden’s unwavering commitment to addressing the Black community’s critical issues. Reflecting on promises made during the 2020 campaign, Jean-Pierre outlined key achievements and ongoing initiatives directly impacting African Americans and other historically underserved communities.
“At the onset of President Biden’s term, the country faced economic turmoil and the devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The President, true to his campaign commitment, prioritized equity, ensuring the Black community received fair access to COVID-19 vaccines,” remarked Jean-Pierre.
“He made sure that small businesses got back on their feet, our schools reopened, and the child tax credit put money into people’s pockets. All those things were important to our community.”
The more than 10-minute discussion also delved into the significance of the American Rescue Plan, which was pivotal in supporting various facets of the Black community. The first Black woman to serve as White House Press Secretary, Jean-Pierre, highlighted the impact of the Biden-Harris administration’s policies on economic recovery, small business revival, and other measures that directly provided essential financial relief to individuals.
Here are some of the highlights:
- Economic indicators demonstrate significant progress since President Biden took office. Black unemployment, which stood at 9.2%, has notably declined to 5.9% as of October, said Jean-Pierre, emphasizing the administration’s commitment to economic revitalization.
- A remarkable 60% increase in net worth for African Americans. She highlighted the historic investment of $7 billion in historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and the doubling of Black business ownership since the onset of the pandemic.
- Equity across various policy areas, including healthcare, education, and police reform. Executive orders were issued to ban chokeholds and implement strong use-of-force policies when congressional action stalled, Jean-Pierre stated.
- The ongoing fight for voting rights, police reform, and cutting prices at the cash register. The prices of eggs, milk, and [other items] are lower than last year, Jean-Pierre said.
