On Friday (1/15) Vice President-elect Kamala Harris called in to the Steve Harvey Morning Show with "a sense of purpose" to talk with our fearless leader, Steve Harvey, about the $1.9 trillion 'American Rescue Plan' and those who need to be saved.
With inauguration day around the corner and being the first woman, let alone woman of color, to be elected as Vice President of the United States, Harris admits she is filled with "gratitude for all of those who...made this possible." She continues, "I'm talking about the ancestors. I'm talking about...Shirley Chisholm and Barbara Jordan and all of them."
Filled with "excitement about the possibilities," the Howard University alumna details what we can expect in the COVID-19 relief bill being introduced and what that means in terms of immediate relief for the American people:
1. On top of the $600 that went to direct checks to folks in December, we're going to do another $1,400, for a total of $2,000.
2. We're looking at $170 billion to help reopen schools....when we’re talking about reopening schools, we’re not going to be able to go back to normal immediately. So, helping schools will be about reducing class sizes, right, and helping…the schools to modify their spaces so that it can be space for the kids to go back to school.
3. $20 billion for community vaccination sites, because we want to make sure that we have vaccination places that are in the community that are accessible to folks, so they can go and get vaccinated.
Now for those on the fence about whether or not they should get vaccinated, Harris encourages "everyone that when it’s their turn, get your vaccinations. It is about saving life. I got mine and please get yours." She continues,
“Believe the scientists, Believe the science…you know it was a black woman who helped create this vaccine." Harris adds, “We have to always speak truth and acknowledge the history of how Black people in America have been treated…by the medical community, and even today...the work we have in terms of disparity that we need to deal with. But on the vaccine, the scientists created the vaccine. The scientists have reviewed it and it’s safe. I wouldn’t’ve taken it, if it weren’t and we have to save lives. Black folks are dying. Black folks are twice as likely to get [COVID 19], and 3x’s as likely to die from it...There are so many things at play right now, but this vaccine will save your life, save the lives of the people in your family, in your neighborhood, in your community and so, let’s trust the science.”
Additionally, the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc member shares her thoughts on the power of our communities (Detroit, Atlanta, Milwaukee, etc) and the historic turnout in the 2020 election:
"It was a display of our power and the thing that makes me so proud about it that in spite of, in so many of those places, efforts by powerful people to try and make it difficult for us to vote or confusing for us to vote, or to suppress the vote, folks said, 'nope, I'm not [going to be silent]. I'll stand in that line as long as I need to. I will vote early, I will make a plan to vote and that's what decided the outcome of this election.' We knew the power that we possess. We exercised that power."
Well said Madam Vice President-elect Harris!
Check out the full interview below:
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Photo: Getty