Biden campaign working to turn its HBCU support into electoral support

The Biden administration has invested major time and money into historically Black colleges and universities in an effort to follow through on promises and maintain its standing among two groups that were critical to President Joe Biden’s 2020 victory: young voters and Black voters.

Now, as the president runs for re-election, the administration will find out just how much goodwill those investments have built — and how much that matters when stacked up against other policy issues important to HBCU students and alums.

In addition to providing more than $7 billion in funding to the schools, the administration has directed its agencies to maximize resources and opportunities for HBCUs and convened multiple meetings of HBCU students and leadership.

“Their commitment to us, as well to make us feel heard and understood, is critical and crucial,” said Lauren Dent, a student at Spelman College. “That’s something that honestly another administration hasn’t really shown HBCUs in the past.”

Vice President Kamala Harris has been at the forefront of the administration’s efforts to maintain a consistent focus on HBCUs. Harris, an HBCU grad herself (Howard University), included several HBCUs on her “Fight for Our Freedoms” college tour last fall, which the White House framed as focusing on “key issues that disproportionately impact young people across the country — from reproductive freedom and gun safety to climate action, voting rights, LGBTQ+ equality, and book bans.”

She attended the Cricket Celebration Bowl, the HBCU football championship game, and delivered the 2022 undergraduate commencement speech at Tennessee State University.

NBC NEWS-