I appreciate Sen. Joe Manchin’s leadership in sponsoring the Freedom to Vote Act. That proposed legislation, if enacted, would address the very serious concerns Black Americans and others share in West Virginia and across the nation regarding election integrity and voting rights.
We also need the help of Manchin, D-W.Va., in regard to another issue that deeply affects West Virginia’s Black community, as well as many other disadvantaged populations. It’s no surprise that the child poverty rate increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, which particularly had an affect on Black and Latino families.
According to the Children’s Defense Fund, 71% of children living in poverty are children of color.