The New Red Tide: Why some Black Men are Considering Trump

I spoke to Black men planning to support trump, here's what I learned

Black Trump Supporter

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On August 5th, 1980, Ronald Reagan took his campaign team to the Bronx. Inspired by President Carter’s 1977 trip there, the purpose of this visit was to show that the candidate wasn’t racist and that the people who claimed that Republicans didn’t like them were making excuses. 

One of the critical moments from this trip can be found on YouTube today. Reagan, dressed in an expensive suit, surrounded by Washington insiders and a press gaggle, stands boldly on the broken streets of the south Bronx. Opposite him is a crowd of Black and brown people demanding to know what he would do for their communities. At first, The soon-to-be president tries to charm his future constituents. But when it was clear that this wouldn’t work, the demeanor of patience and care vanished, and the condescending lecture burst through the facade of America’s greatest actor. 

His response was dismissive but passionate. “I know now that there is nothing I or any government could ever do to help you from this.” He then went on to promise incentives that would make businesses return. The residents weren’t convinced, and Reagan could only leave, promising not to “abandon them like Jimmy Carter had.” Watching it in the present-day feels surreal; the Bronx should be a success story of the highest value. It’s a borough that was abandoned and rebuilt brick by brick with the hands of poor and working-class people. When landlords abandoned their properties, leaving tenants to fend for themselves. They were the ones who learned how to be architects, plumbers, and city planners to make things work. When discussing the Bronx of that time, their stories are glossed over to highlight all that was wrong. Unfortunately, the same people who made something out of nothing were forced to be lectured by someone who knew nothing. Their real-life struggles were a political football he was looking to plant. 

As we all know, Reagan defeated Carter, became president of the United States, and rolled out a policy platform that destroyed the working class and crushed black communities. Reagan’s impact was far-reaching; he set the pace for our culture, told society that “greed was good” and that we shouldn’t have to take care of freeloaders and moochers.” he hated unions and did everything in his power to undermine their effectiveness. And he did this while always wearing a charming smile and lighting up the room with his magnetic personality. For many non-Black voters, Reagan and his values represented what they thought America should be. And from the moment he left office, there has been a desperate search to fill the gap he left. 

For a time, It looked like the conservative agenda that Reagan championed would die. However, the political winds shifted as they tend to do, and America elected a Black president. This wasn’t just a capstone moment in our history; it was a sounding of an alarm for white supremacists and those with limited views on what this country could be.  The backlash to Obama’s rise was a new version of Reagan in the form of Donald Trump. And sure, Trump wasn’t as well-spoken, and he couldn’t follow a script, but his ability to connect with the Republican base was like nothing we had seen since Reagan left politics. That connection led him to a surprising 2016 election victory over Hilary Clinton and then four years of chaos, death, and destruction.

After losing the 2020 election to Joe Biden, Trump now faces Vice President, Kamala Harris for the chance to be president again. Some believe that Harris will win big, but it is very much within the realm of possibility that Trump pulls another upset, if he does, a surprising base may be what pushes him over the edge. 

While Republicans, including Reagan, have failed for years to secure the support of Black voters, the Trump administration believes they have a growing base of support in Black men. 

Whether through collecting endorsements from rappers like Kodak Black or washed-up football player Levon Bell, Trump and Republicans have made a real effort to talk to Black men. This project in securing the Black male vote hit its peak when Trump sat with Black and Latino voters at a Bronx barbershop. The presence of Trump, a known white supremacist sitting comfortably in a community dominated by black and brown people, was shocking to many. Still, you wouldn't have been surprised if you had been paying attention to him or listening to Black men. 

So here is the truth. Outside of Black women, there is no racial group that votes more consistently Democrat than black men. But, more Black men than ever are entertaining trump and the politics of the right. I didn’t question why anyone of color would support him during his first term. As soon as they expressed an opinion I didn’t like, they were dismissed as Uncle Toms and Coons. Now, with time and space to reflect, I regret it. If I desire a world that believes in justice and equity, I can’t dismiss people with opposing opinions. Understanding is the best way to break this cycle of fear and anger we’re currently living in.

With that in mind I decided to talk to Black men planning to support trump. I might disagree with their politics, but it was important to understand why they were voting for him. The first person who agreed to talk to me was a man named reverend Kenard. Based in Newark, New Jersey, Reverend Kenard spent three years sharing worship spaces before finally opening his own this year. His support for trump is grounded in his “pro-life values.” 

He believes the abortion industry is targeting Black women as a form of eugenics, and feels strongly that the Democratic Party is behind this. He was hesitant when I asked how people reacted when he shared his values. While some people agreed with him, very few were willing to say it publicly. Republicans and conserves took him in while others turned their back, and now he was in for good. While he doesn’t like how trump talks about people, he believes that the former president gets the job done on the economy. 

Billy Prempeh is a congressional candidate in New Jersey and a US Air Force veteran who became disillusioned with Obama and the Democrats. He was especially frustrated about military decisions in Libya and policies on LGBTQ communities.  After discovering Ron Paul, Billy became a sponge and learned all about the Republican Party. After learning more about their vision, he felt aligned with their values. He’s voting for trump because of his positions on the Federal Reserve, immigration, and the economy. He argues that under trump's first term, the economy was better, foreign countries “respected” us, and we were dealing with our “immigration issues.”

Fitzroy is an Army veteran who started as a Democrat in Brooklyn, New York. After leaving his local democratic club due to unfair treatment, he switched parties. According to Fitzroy, he started to gravitate towards Republicans when he realized their policies were more pro-business than Democrats. For Fitzroy, entrepreneurship is the fastest way to achieve financial freedom and provide security for your family. He’s voting for trump because he believes MAGA policies will create more economic opportunities. Like Billy and Reverend Kenard, Fitzroy doesn’t like how trump targets people, but that won’t change his vote. 

I thought I knew Black people, so by extension, I thought I understood the minds of Black Trump supporters. They were fools making political decisions grounded in internalized racism. There was nothing else to consider. What I have learned from these conversations is that those idea’s weren’t just offensive and limited, they were wrong. For these voters, supporting trump is not a denial or denouncement of their blackness, instead it is an expression of their love and focus on Black people through their idea of liberation. I can disagree with the theory of change, but that doesn’t give me the right to dismiss them.

Trumps policies would be devastating for Black voters, especially so for Black men. But the realities of a second administration from him doesn’t feel as real as the issues they’re facing today.

Shortly after Trump’s Barbershop interview, the Harris/Waltz campaign released a platform explicitly directed at Black men. The platform looked like a panicked response to some, but in truth, it was a good start. I talked to more than 20 Trump supporters, and what every single one mentioned when discussing their support for Trump was the experience of feeling seen. Black men have been airing their frustrations, asking for help understanding the world, and looking for opportunities to grow; the fact that Trump has been able to woo them means we haven’t done enough to answer their calls. Let’s do something about this before it’s too late. Trump and Republicans have been the only ones willing to listen to their grievances, and because of this, they get to be the ones who explain how the world works. If we want to understand Black men, we have to be willing to listen to them.

Congratulations, you made it to the end, what did you think? 

1. Why do you think some Black men might support Trump?

2. What’s the best way for political parties to connect with communities that feel ignored?

3. Should personal beliefs, like religion, be important in choosing who to vote for?