Vice President Kamala Harris did not explicitly state that she would use executive action to study reparations for Black Americans if elected president. In a September interview with the National Association of Black Journalists, Harris expressed openness to studying the generational impacts of U.S. history. She did not promise to take executive action, but rather suggested that Congress would be the appropriate venue to establish a commission for this purpose.
Harris has previously expressed support for reparations and studying the issue, noting the need to address the historical effects of slavery, housing discrimination, and the Jim Crow era. While a 2021 Pew Research Center survey found that most Americans are against the idea of reparations, with only 30% in support, Harris has emphasized the importance of correcting the course of discrimination and institutional racism through interventions.
Despite the Instagram post claiming Harris would use executive action, the full transcript of her remarks at the NABJ event did not confirm this statement. While Harris has previously voiced support for reparations during her 2019 presidential campaign, she has consistently emphasized the need to study the effects of discrimination and determine appropriate interventions to address the lasting impacts of slavery and segregation in the U.S.
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