"Black Men Huddle Up" in Detroit for Monday Night Football Watch Party & Election Talks

As Americans, the country is in the final weeks of the election season and time is of the essence for the Harris-Walz campaign. Black voters, especially Black men are the targeted demographic in hopes of strengthening and gaining support for Vice President, Kamala Harris and Governor Tim Walz. On Monday night, Black community leaders, influencers, campaign advisors, activist, actors and entrepreneurs gathered at TV Lounge in Detroit.

The Michigan Democratic Party who hosted the event and greeted each guest upon entry, into the establishment. As men began filling the room, it was evident that these men, had one thing or another in common. These were men of quality, substance and class. Even though ages and generations varied, you could tell through conversation that each man is a leader and pillar in his community.

Some of America's high profile Black Men such as actors Delroy Leno, Cornelius Smith and Don Cheadle, along with NFL Player Thomas Booker of the Philadelphia Eagles, Brian Nelson, Senior Policy Advisor to VP Kamala Harris and Communications Expert and Journalist, Jeff Johnson. Each one spoke about their personal experiences with Kamala Harris, from the time she was a lawyer to her current role as Vice President of the United States of America. It was a candid conversation, amongst the men in the room. It gave barbershop vibes and one goal of the conversation were really to listen and understand why some black men are still currently on the fence whether to vote or not to vote and whether or not to vote for Donald Trump or Kamala Harris. to were life's experiences and topics of politics also happen.

The "Black Men Huddle Up" served as a way for Black men to learn about Vice President Harris tools to build wealth, to support their families and ways to continue leading their fellow man. This year, VP Harris launched a first-of-its-kind, nationwide Economic Opportunity Tour to help entrepreneurs access the capital and resources that is needed to launch and grow their businesses. On Monday, October 14th, laid out her Opportunity Agenda for Black Men. Some of the pathbreaking agenda includes:

1. Providing 1 million loans that are fully forgivable to Black entrepreneurs and others to start a business.

2. Championing education, training and mentorship that help Black Men get good-paying jobs in high demand industries

3. Launching a National Health Equity Initiative focused on Black Men that addresses sickle cell disease, diabetes and other illnesses that disproportionately impact them.

If you are still on the fence about voting in this year's election or have reservations, Jeff Johnson, had much to share with those men. When asked, what should Black men take into consideration when it comes to the Harris-Walz Campaign, he said "I still don't believe that most Black Men won't support women leadership, that's not my experience. I know that there are men that's like that but, most of the black men I know aren't even thinking about her being a woman when casting their vote, most black men are like she's the police than, her being a woman. I also don't want black men to be unfairly labeled as misogynists, because they're on the fence of Kamala Harris. I think it distracts from their vote...I think the more we are able to spread accurate information, to dispel myths, to talk to people not just about who Donald Trump isn't, but about who Kamala Harris is, we have the chance to win the vote of those 18–19-year-old-boys, the same way we have the opportunity to win the vote of 20, 30, 40, 50-, 60-, 70- and 80-year-old men." The conversation between Jeff Johnson and the Telegram Newspaper continued, he shared that his time spent in Detroit as a speaker of the event was inspiring but, not quite enough. "It was clear that it was a spectrum of folks, but the vast majority already have made up their mind. So, it's beautiful because the spirit of the room, the challenge is we need to spend every waking hour on folks who haven't made up their mind", Jeff Johnson said.

By the end of the conversation, each man was left with a task at hand, and that was to engage in conversation with other black men about voting and to spread awareness of the agenda that is at hand. They were also instructed to be open to truly listening the other person to know where they stand and how to share what is factual versus the rumors and mistruths of VP Kamala Harris.

For more information on the Opportunity Agenda for Black Men, visit the website, http://www.kamalaharris.com. Attention Detroit Residents, early voting starts at 9am on October 19th. You have a 16-day window to cast ballots for the November 5th election. Early voting sites will be open Monday – Saturday from 9am-5pm.

To learn more on early voting, visit http://www.detroitmi.gov