Kamala Harris’s latest proposal, an “Opportunity Agenda for Black Men,” is drawing heavy criticism and is now forcing her campaign to make a hasty retreat.

After facing massive backlash from critics who questioned the exclusionary nature of the plan, Harris’s campaign has now said that the initiative will be available to everyone, not just Black men. The quick pivot has only added fuel to the fire, creating doubts about the seriousness of Harris’s presidential campaign.  The initial proposal, which Harris had touted as a solution to uplift Black men through forgivable loans, mentorship, and educational programs, was met with mixed reactions.

According to Harris’s campaign, the Opportunity Agenda would offer forgivable loans of up to $20,000 for Black entrepreneurs, support for education and job training programs, and protections for cryptocurrency investments.

The Wall Street Journal reported:

Vice President Kamala Harris’s “Opportunity Agenda for Black Men” aims to shore up support from a pillar of the Democratic base, with a key section promising “1 million loans that are fully forgivable to Black entrepreneurs and others to start a business.” It also includes “education, training and mentorship programs that help Black men get good-paying jobs,” “legalizing recreational marijuana and creating opportunities for Black Americans to succeed in this new industry” and “helping Black men provide care for their aging parents.”

While Harris’s rhetoric suggests she will provide such benefits specifically to Black men and women, it turns out that the words “and others” are doing a ton of work: The campaign says that the programs listed under the Black men agenda will be open to all Americans on a race-neutral basis.

The initiative also included a national health initiative targeting illnesses that disproportionately affect Black men and the legalization of recreational marijuana, with an emphasis on creating opportunities in the industry for Black Americans. Harris’s team has now stated that the agenda will be open to all, not just Black men.

Kamala Harris’ campaign has now told the Wall Street Journal that her “Opportunity Agenda for Black Men” will be available for everyone.

This is not what a serious presidential campaign looks like. https://t.co/X0yErkGkU8 pic.twitter.com/xs6qFBhxI8

— Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) October 16, 2024

The vice president’s campaign has been struggling to gain traction in the 2024 race, and this latest step may further erode her support among voters looking for strong leadership and clear, well-thought-out policies. Harris is”clear-eyed about how Black men have long been denied the tools that would allow them to grow their wealth, get a good-paying job and support their loved ones—she is championing solutions that will benefit all Americans and address these specific barriers to economic opportunity,” a campaign aide told the WSJ.

Although the programs under the Black men agenda will be accessible to all, the Harris campaign clarified that its focus was not misdirected. According to a campaign handout, the vice president crafted these initiatives after absorbing “powerful stories from Black men about the biggest hurdles that still make it too difficult for them to get their businesses off the ground.” However, the Harris campaign has acknowledged that the Black men agenda is more about reassuring a specific voting bloc.