One of the most puzzling things to me personally in my work discussing local economic development is the increasing support of Donald Trump by some black neighbors. While I was part of the early fraud cases representing small business contractors against him, that was decades ago and much has changed in the world.
Journalist Astrid Herndon published a Thanksgiving focus group with really clear results. It highlighted two key issues with YOUNG BLACK VOTERS:
- Don’t feel the administration did enough to bring Kamala Harris to the top position.
- Won’t vote for Trump and do not see that not voting as a vote for Trump.
Among BLACK MEN:
- See that Republicans are in control of their local government and don’t want to vote against their own local financial interests.
- Democrats ignored black men; ‘don’t take care of the home base’.
- Oppose international financial aid.
- Many are anti-immigrant. Most are focused on their own self-interest.
- Trump will win 1 in 4 votes from black men.
BLACK WOMEN say:
- Black voters are vulnerable to Trump’s rhetoric.
- Some regret teaching values of “what’s in it for me”.
- Trump will win 1 out of 4 votes from black men.