Trump's Record for Black America
I’m going to shock you, you may want to make sure you’re sitting down for this — I believe Donald Trump might have actually been right when he claimed to have had the most accomplished record for Black Americans than any President since Abraham Lincoln.
In a culture where titles are read and articles too often not, let me begin with a disclaimer. I have never casted a vote for Donald J. Trump and after the events following the 2020 election, my moral integrity, driven by my faith, with a goal of caring for and protecting all of my American neighbors will not allow me to cast a vote for former President Trump. This is my conviction. That said, because my care is extended to all Americans, and I wish to honor God with my mind, I care to be truthful and consistent (without hypocrisy as Paul teaches in Romans 12:9–12).
My focus here is from an angle that I find to be both exciting and saddening, that is the Trump administration’s record and impact for black Americans. Exciting, because our voting does matter and does make an impact. Sad, because I understand Trump’s rhetoric at times has indeed hurt many, understandably so. I do understand the cultural context that exist between many black Americans and former President Trump, it is far too complex to address here. I’d rather focus on a platform of policies that are worth discussing as you consider what policies and platforms best fit your ideals.
As a black American myself, I wish to educate an electorate who I believe, at large, votes against their own interests and historical values.
President Trump’s Policy Record:
The following is my recollection of the Trump Administration’s record, I’d like you to consider, that specifically targeted black Americans:
Permanent funding for HBCUs, most funding under any US President (Biden actually cut this funding when he took office, cut to 5% of what Trump had committed). *Source: https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/issues/education/
Trump supports School Choice, which empowers the most vulnerable students (usually urban students who often have terrible school systems, i.e. Philadelphia) to go to a school of their choice, that may be better than the one closest to them. *Source: https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/presidential-actions/executive-order-expanding-educational-opportunity-school-choice/
Trump signed the First Step Act, a first step toward criminal justice reform, which repealed and shortened those sentenced for non-violent, low level crimes, including drug possession charges and freed many of these convicted Americans who had received excessive sentencing, which disproportionately impacted black Americans. (Before you say, well he didn’t do anything about police reform… there are actually no statistics that show black Americans are disproportionately shot by police. Most of the injustice happens in court rooms and sentencing.) *First Step Act Source: https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefings-statements/president-donald-j-trump-committed-building-successes-first-step-act/
*Police Discrimination in Use of Force Source: https://scholar.harvard.edu/files/fryer/files/empirical_analysis_tables_figures.pdf
Trump signed a bill creating Opportunity Zones, which again, disproportionately targets urban and minority communities. These are areas, majority of which are in urban areas, where “red tape” is removed to lower the barrier of entry to start businesses and that is done in the form of tax benefits for example, removing hinderances for those who want to start businesses in these areas. This also extends to real estate investors, buying investment properties in opportunity zones provides a great entry into real estate investing for minorities. It also incentivizes minority & non-minority landlords to provide affordable housing in urban communities. (Lindenwold, NJ has an opportunity zone… there are affordable lots for sale and new construction homes that are within an opportunity zone — it’s at my own doorstep to take advantage of). *Source: https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefings-statements/president-donald-j-trump-lifting-driving-new-prosperity-previously-forgotten-american-communities/
Trump’s economic policies created one of the best economic conditions for black Americans in American history! Under the Trump Administration, black Americans had the lowest unemployment rate in the country’s history, wages were increasing, and black home ownership was increasing. *Source: https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/articles/u-s-unemployment-rate-remains-at-near-historic-low-of-3-7-percent-african-american-unemployment-rate-hits-new-series-low/
Trump installed several Supreme Court justices who would eventually be the catalyst for overturning Roe v. Wade (Abortion Rights). Abortion as a government service was initially pursued by Margaret Sanger, a racist & eugenist who sought abortion as a tool to extinguish the black race. To this day it disproportionally kills more black babies than any other race, even though blacks are a minority of the population. Government funded Planned Parenthood (founded by Margaret Sanger) facilitates are disproportionately placed in urban areas where black Americans are a majority of the population. Sanger’s goal to commit genocide is happening in real time, due to abortion, the black community is not having enough babies to maintain the population of black Americans, it is on a decline, primarily due to abortion. (If you are indifferent to the topic of abortion, please at least inform yourself of what abortion is and does: https://youtu.be/CFZDhM5Gwhk?si=07mPSwcRI7orn8Nh)
If Donald Trump is a racist, he’s the worst racist ever… and that’s truly a possibility. Surely there are biases: No different from Biden who has implied black Americans are monkeys (calling it a “racial jungle” when opposing desegregation of school busing… Yes, Biden opposed desegregation.), Biden who was surprised Obama can actually speak well, and Biden who you could argue was the main reason Trump had to sign the First Step Act, due to the 1994 Crime Bill which disproportionately put black Americans in jail/prison for lengthy sentences for minor drug offenses.
History of the Democratic Party:
Lastly, Democrats have gotten credit for caring most about black Americans, however, I question if this has ever really been the case. It was members of the Democratic Party who were the first leaders of the KKK, part of the purpose of the KKK was to intimidate black Americans to vote Democrat (& unfortunately they are succeeding to this very day). Democrats mostly opposed civil rights for African Americans.
President Johnson (Democrat), signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964, from this point, many black Americans gave the Democrats credit for the progress on civil rights, what they don’t teach you in school (or tell you on the news) is that it was Republicans in Congress that had this bill sent to the President, Democrats in Congress vastly opposed this bill. President Johnson also did not want to sign the bill, as there was pressure to not lose southern support for Democrats (by signing the bill, he did so anyway; and it is rumored that he said “we’ll have these (N-word) voting for us for the next 200 years.” If true, he was right.
To this day the Democratic party panders to black Americans by dressing up like allies, but care nothing about making black Americans’ lives improve through effective policy.
Call to Action:
To be clear, I’m not asking any of you to vote for Donald Trump, I’m asking you to think for yourself, research, read, and educate. If you’re a Democrat or are considering voting Democrat, I do believe it starts with questioning your support for the Democratic Party.
Even if you believe the Republican Party is a plantation, you wouldn’t dare choose which plantation to work on (Democratic or Republican), you’d pursue freedom from both — so pursue freedom from both, if not with your vote, then with your mind.
As we approach election season…
think deeply; care for your brothers and sisters (all humanity); & most importantly, honor God.