Politics As Usual Has Failed the Black Community

For too long the levers of power in Washington have changed hands between Republicans and Democrats without meaningful change coming to the black community.  Things will be different with Independent Robert F. Kennedy Jr. who has spent forty years fiercely protecting minority communities. 

In Kennedy’s first case as an environmental attorney, he represented the NAACP in its fight to stop a garbage station in Ossining, NY. He has always been there for vulnerable communities, from the Bronx to indigenous people in North and South America.


 

OPERATION PHOENIX

 

Black businesses are the lifeblood of their community, and Kennedy knows it. He served on the board of Restoration Plaza in Bed-Stuy for 35 years. Ending redlining and releasing investment capital turned Restoration Plaza into a thriving business community.  Kennedy will replicate this success across the country. Rather than the hundred billion dollar bank bailouts, Kennedy will invest in urban and struggling communities. They will rise and thrive through Operation Phoenix.

TANGIBLES:

  • Increased access to investment capital for a robust, self-sustaining Black business infrastructure.
  • Institute Black Business Development Agency to build and support African-American companies.
  • Web courses taught by respected Black entrepreneurs on starting a business as qualifiers for small business grants. 
  • Low interest microloans to invest in approved business plans with flexible repayment terms.
  • Millions of new, full-time jobs for the Black community.
  • Immigration policy that protects local resources, ending the migrant encampments in urban areas.
  • Increased trade school and college prep opportunities for our youth.

JUSTICE

Police Reform

  • Recruit police from the neighborhoods they serve.
  • Don’t make police do jobs they aren’t trained for..Increased funding for mental health professionals accompanying police to help de-escalate citizens in nonviolent mental health crises.
  • Commission to root out systemic bias from the federal to the local levels.
  • Ending civil forfeiture by making seizing assets from citizens illegal without due process. 

Justice for Black Farmers

Robert Kennedy Jr. will end USDA discrimination against Black farmers, and protect current landowners from further land loss.

Prison Reform

Expand reintroduction to the community for non-violent offenders and dismantle the school-to-prison pipeline by ending suspensions being added to criminal records.

Environmental Justice

Penalize environmental pollution caused by corporations dumping toxic waste in Black communities.


AN AMERICAN DREAM FOR ALL

 

Americorps and a New GI Bill for Community Service

Just as the GI Bill built the middle class after WWII, Kennedy’s expansion of service award benefits in Americorps, our domestic Peace Corps, will put the next generation on a path towards the American Dream. Cleaning up parks, caring for the elderly, building infrastructure and working on organic, healing farms will unlock significant assets to pay your way through college or learn a trade, start a small business or put a down payment on a home.  With nearly 60% of minority households liquid asset poor, Kennedy’s plan will help end the racial wealth gap.

Student Debt Relief

As President, RFK Jr. will push to make student debt dischargeable in bankruptcy and move to cancel student debt.

Home Ownership

First time home buyers should not have to compete with private equity firms and billionaires to buy a home. Kennedy will fight to keep Wall Street out of the single family home market and  institute 3% government-backed mortgage bonds to make home ownership more affordable for families. It’s like having a rich uncle - Uncle Sam - who is willing to cosign your mortgage.

Homelessness

There’s no American Dream for those living the nightmare of homelessness which disproportionately affects the Black Community.  Kennedy will push to address root causes of homelessness and expand wrap around services.


Addressing the Black Maternal Healthcare Crisis

 

Implicit bias and discrimination in healthcare is a serious issue affecting the Black community.  The history of this extends centuries back into the American experiment.  It has resulted in Black women receiving lower quality care. Studies indicate that Black women are less likely to be heard by healthcare providers. 

Higher rates of poverty and limited access to quality healthcare contribute to poorer health outcomes. Black women are more likely to live in areas with fewer healthcare facilities and providers.  Additionally, Black women experience higher rates of conditions like hypertension, diabetes, and obesity, which can complicate pregnancy and childbirth.

Limited access to prenatal care, often due to lack of insurance or transportation, can lead to undiagnosed and untreated complications. Chronic stress from facing racial discrimination and economic instability can negatively impact pregnancy outcomes.  Many Black women live in areas with limited or no maternity care services, which can delay or prevent access to necessary care.

Solutions to Reduce the Crisis

  1. Address Systemic Racism: Implement training programs for healthcare providers to recognize and counteract implicit biases. Encourage diversity in the medical workforce.
  2. Expand Access to Healthcare: Increase funding for Medicaid and other programs that provide healthcare to low-income individuals. Ensure that all women have access to comprehensive prenatal care.
  3. Community-Based Support: Develop community health programs that provide support to pregnant women. This includes doulas and midwives who can offer personalized care and advocacy.
  4. Improve Data Collection and Research: Collect better data on maternal health outcomes to identify and address disparities. Fund research focused on understanding and reducing these disparities.
  5. Policy Changes: Advocate for policies that support maternal health, such as paid family leave, affordable childcare, and access to reproductive health services.
  6. Education and Awareness: Increase awareness about the importance of prenatal care and the signs of pregnancy complications. Provide education on healthy lifestyle choices.
  7. Support Pregnancy Resource Centers: Support and expand pregnancy resource centers like Auntie Angie's House, which provide essential services and support to pregnant women, particularly those from marginalized communities. These centers offer a safe space, resources, and personalized care, helping to bridge the gap in healthcare access.

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