John,
Not ONCE in President Biden's State of the Union Address did he mention the student debt crisis.
Sadly, we are not surprised.
It's no secret that the weight of student loan debt has caused many hardships for Americans across the country. But the reality is: It has had a disproportionate impact on Black students and families – especially Black women.
It shouldn't be the “norm” for a Black woman with a dream of an education and career to feel like she's drowning, as her student loans hinder her from attaining economic security and prosperity. She should not have to feel like she's choosing between keeping food on the table or getting an education.
We've said it once and we'll say it again: This is not normalcy -- this is
suffering.
Education cannot be the key to our success if it's adding to an already significant financial burden. The racial wealth gap widening as Black folks get educated is counter-productive to our success.
President Biden canceling all student debt would provide significant relief to the millions of Black people who are burdened with student loans. He needs to hear our demands loud and clear – cancel it ALL. Add your name to the petition now.
It was Black women who organized and showed up to the polls to put President Biden into office. But guess what? While Black women are the most educated demographic in the U.S., they are also the demographic that holds the most amount of student debt.
President Biden's refusal to even mention the student debt crisis at the State of the Union was a direct blow to the very people who put him in the presidency.
The narrative that success and a better life starts with getting an education has been preached to Black communities for generations. And now, Black people are now not only attending college, but graduating at higher rates than before. But of course, white supremacist capitalism has woven its way into our education system – creating unnecessary hurdles for Black students and families.
We see the economic impact of student debt hit Black communities the hardest, just as it does in various other spaces like health care, food insecurity, and so much more. By canceling student debt, President Biden could
immediately alleviate crushing financial pressure felt by countless Black students and families around the country.
Student loan relief is a necessary step towards Black liberation. It allows Black families to build intergenerational wealth and close the existing racial wealth gap. President Biden has the power to cancel it all and we're calling on him and his administration to do just that.
Because with the stroke of a pen, President Biden could cancel all student debt. Sign the petition NOW! >>
In love and solidarity,
Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation
