Harris-Walz HBCU Tour Puts Black College Culture at the Forefront of 2024 Campaign Strategy

As the Harris-Walz campaign works to secure the support of Black voters ahead of the 2024 election, they have turned to one of the most cherished cultural institutions within Black America: the Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Throughout this year’s homecoming season, the campaign embarked on an HBCU Homecoming Tour, visiting schools across the South and beyond to engage with students, alumni, and faculty. From North Carolina to Georgia, the campaign team has brought out notable alumni, cultural figures, and even former President Bill Clinton to join them on the trail, underscoring the campaign’s effort to meet voters where they are—in places steeped in Black history and community.

According to the campaign, for Vice President Kamala Harris, a Howard University graduate, the HBCU tour is more than a campaign stop; it’s a return to her roots. Her own HBCU experience informs much of her political identity, and she’s consistently highlighted the importance of HBCUs in shaping Black leaders and empowering future generations.

The tour officially launched in North Carolina at Winston-Salem State University, where the campaign hosted a tailgate event coinciding with the university’s 132nd Founders Day and the WSSU vs. Bowie State University football game. The schedule then brought the campaign to classics and homecoming celebrations across states critical to the 2024 election outcome, including Florida, Pennsylvania, and Virginia, where Black voter turnout could make or break the Democratic ticket.

The tour schedule included the following stops: 

• Winston-Salem State University, Weekend of September 28th 
• Tuskegee University vs Morehouse College, Weekend of October 5th (classic, Columbus, GA)
• Lincoln University and Cheyney University, Weekend of October 12th 
• Virginia State University and Fort Valley State University, Weekend of Oct 12 
• Howard University, Weekend of October 19th 
• North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, Weekend of October 19th
• Clark Atlanta University, Weekend of October 19th 
• Morehouse and Spelman College + Savannah State University, Weekend of October 26th 
• Alabama State vs Alabama A&M, Weekend of October 26th (classic, Birmingham, AL)
• Florida A&M University vs Texas Southern University, Weekend of November 2nd

Beyond the pageantry of the events, the tour has been an opportunity to showcase the Harris-Walz campaign’s focus on culturally resonant engagement. By centering the campaign around HBCU homecomings—events that attract tens of thousands of students, alumni, and supporters annually—the campaign is tapping into the rich, communal atmosphere of HBCU life, a sphere known for fostering close-knit communities and collective pride. Campaign surrogates such as filmmaker Spike Lee, actress Keke Palmer, and rapper Common have joined the tour, drawing crowds and media attention that elevate the profile of the tour and help reach younger voters who might otherwise tune out traditional political outreach.

“It’s more than just a visit,” said Kamau Marshall, Senior Advisor to the Harris-Walz campaign. “It’s about bringing our message directly to communities that have been the backbone of American progress and civil rights. We’re making sure students know their voices, their votes, and their futures matter, and that the Harris-Walz ticket will stand with them.”

The campaign’s message resonates strongly against the backdrop of recent legislative actions that have restricted voting access, particularly in battleground states where many of these HBCUs are located. In Georgia, where a significant portion of the tour took place, Governor Tim Walz addressed students at Atlanta University Center, which includes Spelman College, Morehouse College, Morris Brown College and Clark Atlanta University. He spoke candidly about the erosion of voting rights across the state, drawing connections between today’s challenges and the civil rights struggles that propelled students from the same institutions into activism decades ago.

According to the campaign, HBCU engagement has been lead by the following campaign staffers and leaders:

• Dr. Glenda Glover, Divine Nine Lead and HBCU campaign chair
• Trey Baker, Senior Advisor
• Kamau Marshall, Senior Advisor
• Christale Spain, Black Engagement Director
• Jonathan Hildner, Deputy Black Engagement Director
• Chris Scott, VP Harris Coalition Director
• Kaya Jones, National Deputy Director of Youth Engagement
• Tye Compton, HBCU Youth Coordinator

As the tour wraps up, the Harris-Walz campaign plans to continue its focus on HBCUs through digital and in-person engagement. The campaign’s focus on Black college culture is a clear acknowledgment of the growing political influence of HBCUs and their alumni networks in today’s elections.

With the support of popular surrogates, cultural icons, and a renewed emphasis on HBCU funding, the Harris-Walz campaign is betting on the power of Black college engagement to drive voter turnout. In a political landscape where every vote counts, especially in states with tight races, the influence of these institutions and their communities may well prove very decisive.