Disenchanted with Democrats: The Black Voters Going for Trump

17 snips

Jul 18, 2024

Guest

Tomiko Hope

Guest

A.K. Kamara

A.K. Kamara, a Black Republican from Minnesota, shares his journey navigating political identities and the backlash he faces from his community. Tomiko Hope, a GOP committee woman from Chicago, discusses economic hardships that drive her support for Trump. They explore the surprising increase in Black voter support for Trump and contrast it with traditional Democratic expectations. The conversation highlights the complexities of political affiliation, urging a deeper understanding between the Republican Party and Black communities.

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ANECDOTE

A.K. Kamara's Political Journey

A.K. Kamara, raised in low-income housing, became a Republican in college.
Black female professors called him a "race traitor" and "Uncle Tom."

INSIGHT

Trump's Masculine Appeal

Trump's masculinity appeals to Black men who feel emasculated by societal trends.
This includes crackdowns on crime and welfare programs disproportionately affecting Black communities.

INSIGHT

Trump and Hip-Hop Culture

Trump's straightforward communication style resonates with Black men.
This aligns with hip-hop culture's emphasis on free expression.

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For the past few decades, it’s been conventional wisdom in D.C. that “demographics are destiny.” That the increased share of immigrants, young people, and racial minorities across the country would build a bulletproof coalition for the Democratic Party, swelling their ranks and keeping them in power forever.

Those who deviated from this expectation could expect to be called sellouts, race traitors, and Uncle Toms. Recall Joe Biden’s infamous interview with radio host Charlamagne tha God, when he said: “If you have a problem figuring out if you’re for me or for Trump, then you ain’t black.”

But in the past year, Donald Trump has been winning over more minority voters than any Republican in decades. Recent polls have consistently shown that Trump has reached a shocking 20 percent support among black voters. That’s compared to the 8 percent he got in 2016. And Biden’s polling with black voters has dropped dramatically.

This is a monumental, and to many, unexpected turn. And it was noticeable at the RNC. When Michael Moynihan went to the 2016 Republican Convention in Cleveland, the audience was more monochromatic. While certainly not as racially diverse as the Democratic coalition, the convention in Milwaukee felt younger and less white.

Monday night, Amber Rose opened the proceedings. Tuesday night, Madeline Brame, the mother of a murdered veteran, gave a thunderous speech explaining why she’s supporting Trump. She said: “Our eyes have been opened, just like so many other poor minorities across America. Donald Trump shares our values, love of God and family and country. He’s been a victim of the same corrupt system that I have been and my family has been.”

What’s behind this shift? Why do Biden and the Democratic Party seem to be losing their edge with black voters? And could this end up making a real difference for the 2024 election?

Last night, Michael Moynihan went to an event at the RNC put on by the Black Conservative Federation to ask them why they think that MAGA conservatism is appealing to black voters.

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