November 3, 2024

Welcome to our weekly Sunday newsletter. As we countdown the days to Election Day, we review why Black voters overwhelmingly favor Vice President Harris on key issues, share an overview of the Electoral College and spotlight a new documentary capturing the musical influence of Luther Vandross.

Black Voters More Confident in Harris Than Trump Across Most Issues

By Lisa D.Tinsley

A Pew Research Center survey reveals that 84% of Black registered voters would support Vice President Kamala Harris over former President Donald Trump in the 2024 election, while 13% back Trump. Satisfaction with the candidates has risen since Harris became the Democratic nominee, with 57% of Black voters feeling content with their options, a significant increase from when Biden was the expected nominee in July 2024.

Despite the overall satisfaction, younger Black voters are less enthusiastic about the presidential candidates compared to older voters. Black voters aged 18 to 49 are less likely to feel satisfied, with 57% expressing dissatisfaction, while only 29% of those 50 and older feel the same. Key issues driving Black voters’ concerns include the economy, health care, racial inequality, and violent crime.

Black voters overwhelmingly express confidence in Harris over Trump on critical issues such as health care, racial matters, and economic policy. About 87% of Black voters believe Harris would make good decisions about health care policy, while only 30% trust Trump on these matters. Black women and older voters tend to show even more confidence in Harris, particularly on economic and criminal justice issues.

However, demographic differences show younger Black voters and men exhibit slightly more confidence in Trump’s ability to manage certain policies, such as the economy. Still, across the board, Harris commands significantly more trust among Black voters, particularly on issues like Supreme Court nominations, abortion, foreign policy, and reducing money’s influence in politics. Black voters diverge from other voter groups by prioritizing racial inequality more heavily than the general electorate.

campus chronicles // hbcu edition

• Bethune-Cookman University (B-CU) has announced one of its largest enrollments for the Fall 2024 academic year, with a total of 3,123 students, marking a 24.13% increase from the previous year’s enrollment of 2,516. This growth includes 1,150 freshman students, making up 36.82% of the student body, and reflects a 6% increase in applications. The top five majors include pre-nursing, psychology, health and exercise science, criminal justice, and business administration. The university’s strong recruitment efforts have bolstered its reputation as a premier institution for higher education.

• Morgan State University’s School of Social Work has received a $500,000 State Opioid Response (SOR) grant to train a new generation of social work professionals to address the opioid misuse epidemic. Awarded by the Maryland Department of Health’s Behavioral Health Administration and funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the grant will support 38 undergraduate and master’s students, as well as eight doctoral fellows, through the SHIELD initiative. These fellows will receive specialized training in trauma-informed care and substance use disorder management to enhance their skills in behavioral health. This initiative aligns with federal priorities to tackle the opioid crisis and aims to reduce unmet treatment needs across Maryland, as the U.S. saw over 107,000 drug overdose deaths in 2023.

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Here are five key highlights about the Electoral College:

• Purpose: The Electoral College was created by the U.S. Constitution as a compromise between electing the president by a popular vote and a vote in Congress.

• Electors: Each state has a set number of electors based on its representation in Congress (Senators + House members). There are 538 electors in total, and a candidate needs 270 electoral votes to win the presidency.

• Winner-Takes-All System: Most states follow a “winner-takes-all” approach, meaning the candidate with the most popular votes in the state wins all of it’s electoral votes. Maine and Nebraska, however, use a proportional system.

• Discrepancy Between Popular Vote and Electoral College: There have been instances where a candidate wins the Electoral College but loses the national popular vote, as seen in the 2000 and 2016 elections.

• Controversy: The Electoral College system faces criticism for giving disproportionate influence to smaller states and swing states, sparking ongoing debates about reform or abolition.

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culture

The upcoming documentary Luther: Never Too Much by Giant Pictures will explore the life and legacy of the late R&B icon Luther Vandross, who passed away at 54 due to health complications. Directed by award-winning filmmaker Dawn Porter, the film highlights Vandross’ influence across multiple music genres, showcasing his journey from backup singer to solo sensation with hits like “Never Too Much.” Featuring over 40 years of archival footage and interviews with Mariah Carey, Dionne Warwick, and Jamie Foxx, the documentary premiered at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival. On November 1st, the documentary was released nationwide. In 2025, the documentary will air on CNN, OWN, and Max.

The film is a celebration of Vandross’ lasting impact on music and delves into Vandross’ early career, including his unexpected break into the music industry after crashing a David Bowie recording session. His rise to fame as one of the most sought-after backup singers for icons like Aretha Franklin and Barbra Streisand paved the way for his own solo success. The documentary aims to capture Vandross not just as a musical genius, but also as a man who lived a full and complex life, as shared by his niece, Seveda Williams.

Our editor, Lisa D.Tinsley, would like to thank you for spending part of your day with KISA News Radio.

See you next Sunday.

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