Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Black Voters Say They Won't Forget Trump's Racist Tweets
gvw_ap_news
By Associated Press
Published 6 years ago on
July 24, 2019

Share

DETROIT — Robin D. Stephens lived through Jim Crow and thought the worst days of racism were behind her. Then President Donald Trump told four American congresswomen of color to “go back” to where they came from.
“It was very hurtful to see the person who is the leader of the country that I live in and that I respect and love, speak that way to U.S. citizens,” said Stephens, a 61-year-old retired public defender who lives in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

“What I want to talk about now to people and to get people excited about and to get people wanting to go out to vote about now is the fact that this came from the White House. We can change that. And the way we change that is by voting.” — Robin D. Stephens
But Stephens is tired of talking about Trump’s racist tweets. She is ready to take her pain to the polls.
“What I want to talk about now to people and to get people excited about and to get people wanting to go out to vote about now is the fact that this came from the White House,” Stephens said. “We can change that. And the way we change that is by voting.”
Democratic presidential candidates gathering in Detroit on Wednesday to address the annual NAACP convention will need voters like Stephens to keep that passion heading into next year’s election. Trump is gambling that his attacks on the four congresswomen, which he revived on Tuesday, will help him secure another term in the White House by galvanizing his most fervent, overwhelmingly white supporters.
But dozens of black leaders, activists and voters in pivotal swing states said they’re just as motivated to vote and won’t forget Trump’s actions.
“I see more people engaged and responding to the comments, people who aren’t political, friends of mine who vote more casually, they are responding,” said Wisconsin Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes, who is black and from Milwaukee, where Democrats will meet to declare their nominee at the party’s convention next summer.

Democratic Candidates Blast Trump’s Record on Race

In 2016, black turnout was down about 7 percentage points nationally compared with 2012, according to census estimates. Barnes said the Republican president’s comments are resonating with people “in a more real way” than past statements he’s made, which could translate into increased turnout in November 2020.
“The most important thing that we can have happen is the president needs to keep talking because he’s showing his true colors, he’s showing how he really feels,” said David Bowen, a Wisconsin state representative from Milwaukee who is black. “These overt racist incidents are going to wake people up and remind them that four more years of the president is not going to benefit this country, not benefit African Americans.”
Angela Lang, who started Black Leaders Organizing for Communities after Trump’s 2016 victory, agreed.
“This is all hands on deck,” she said in response to Trump’s comments. “We can’t tolerate this. I think people are fed up. It’s agitating people in a way to engage them to do whatever they can for 2020.”
Woke Vote founder DeJuana Thompson said it’s a sentiment she has been hearing as she has worked to expand voter turnout in states like Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania. Thompson said that regardless of the race of the candidates, there is an expectation from voters of color that the 2020 Democrats must confront racism on the campaign trail.
“There’s not a different standard being applied,” Thompson said. “The standard is justice. The standard is equity. And if you’re not saying those things, it is landing — particularly on people of color’s ears — very differently than it ever has before.”
Speaking to the NAACP on Wednesday, several Democratic White House hopefuls blasted Trump’s record on race. New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker derided Trump’s reference to African nations as “shithole countries.” Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders said Trump is trying to “divide people up in order to gain power.”

Some African Americans Still Weighing Trump’s Actions

Bill Weld, the former Massachusetts governor mounting a longshot challenge to Trump for the Republican nomination, called the president a “raging racist,” ignoring Trump’s claim last week that he doesn’t have “a racist bone” in his body.
Some African Americans are still weighing Trump’s actions and how it might influence their vote. Michael Brown, a 34-year-old who lives in Philadelphia, said he believes the country is increasingly divided along racial lines, but he isn’t sure whether he’ll vote next year. If he does go to the polls, racism won’t be a factor in his decision.

“For me, I would have to hear ‘I hate black people, I hate Asians, I hate Hispanics,’ to be like, OK, he’s a racist.” — Michael Brown, 34, of Philadelphia
He said he isn’t sure whether the president is racist, though Brown said “it appears like he could be” based on some of his past statements.
“For me, I would have to hear ‘I hate black people, I hate Asians, I hate Hispanics,’ to be like, OK, he’s a racist,” he said, adding that he understands why some would take Trump’s comments about the congresswomen as racism.
Reggie Hall Jr. saw the president’s tweets and talk differently and said Trump’s rhetoric has only escalated since he took office.
“I think he went too far from the beginning, but him condemning the four congresswomen, if you’re looking for a final straw, that could probably be it,” said Hall, 32, of Philadelphia.
Hall, who backed Democrat Hillary Clinton in 2016, participates in most elections and said that he’s “extremely motivated” to vote in 2020. While race and racism aren’t the sole factors in his decision of whom to support among the Democratic primary candidates, Hall said he does want to hear from them on matters of race.
“If you’re going to try to weave this coalition together, you need to address the fact that race is a factor in a lot of things,” Hall said. “Whoever comes out of the Democratic primary, their response to race and race relations, for me personally, is going to be better than anything Trump has said.”

DON'T MISS

What Are Fresno Real Estate Experts Predicting for 2025 and Beyond?

DON'T MISS

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

DON'T MISS

Almost Half of Gazans Willing to Leave, Survey Finds

DON'T MISS

Texas Governor Greg Abbott Threatens Texas City Over Pro-Palestinian Resolution

DON'T MISS

Anti-Israel Boycott Bill Withdrawn from Congressional Vote

DON'T MISS

Ravens Release Justin Tucker After Accusations by Massage Therapists of Inappropriate Behavior

DON'T MISS

Carney Meets Trump in Bid to Reset Strained Canada-US Relations

DON'T MISS

Draymond Green’s Vow to Keep His Cool Helps Warriors Advance to in West Semis

DON'T MISS

Ian Happ Homers as the Cubs Beat the Sloppy Giants

DON'T MISS

Ohtani and Freeman Homer off Alcántara as Dodgers Beat Marlins

DON'T MISS

That One Place Provides a Unique Karaoke Experience and Is ‘Good for the Soul’

DON'T MISS

Israel Hits Yemen’s Main Airport in Airstrike Against Houthis

UP NEXT

Draymond Green’s Vow to Keep His Cool Helps Warriors Advance to in West Semis

UP NEXT

Ian Happ Homers as the Cubs Beat the Sloppy Giants

UP NEXT

Warren Buffett Shocks Shareholders by Announcing His Intention to Retire at the End of the Year

UP NEXT

Don’t Have a REAL ID Yet? That Could Cause You Travel Headaches After May 7

UP NEXT

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese Wins a Second 3-Year Term

UP NEXT

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Trial to Delve Into the Seediest Side of Rap’s ‘Bad Boy’

UP NEXT

Robbie Ray’s Gem Leads the Giants Over the Rockies

UP NEXT

World’s Tallest and Smallest Dogs Meet Up for a Playdate

UP NEXT

University of Texas Chancellor Is Named President of the University of California

UP NEXT

Here’s Why May the 4th Is Celebrated as Star Wars Day Across the Galaxy

Ravens Release Justin Tucker After Accusations by Massage Therapists of Inappropriate Behavior

2 hours ago

Carney Meets Trump in Bid to Reset Strained Canada-US Relations

2 hours ago

Draymond Green’s Vow to Keep His Cool Helps Warriors Advance to in West Semis

2 hours ago

Ian Happ Homers as the Cubs Beat the Sloppy Giants

2 hours ago

Ohtani and Freeman Homer off Alcántara as Dodgers Beat Marlins

2 hours ago

That One Place Provides a Unique Karaoke Experience and Is ‘Good for the Soul’

2 hours ago

Israel Hits Yemen’s Main Airport in Airstrike Against Houthis

3 hours ago

Hanford Toddler Critical After Accidental Gunshot, Police Arrest Relative

3 hours ago

Drone Strikes Pound Port Sudan, Putting Aid Deliveries at Risk

3 hours ago

Europe Launches $566M Program to Lure US Researchers Amid Trump Cuts

3 hours ago

Almost Half of Gazans Willing to Leave, Survey Finds

JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Almost half of Gazans may be willing to apply to Israel to help them leave to other countries, according to a su...

28 minutes ago

Smoke rises from Gaza, as seen from the Israel, May 6, 2025. (REUTERS/Amir Cohen)
28 minutes ago

Almost Half of Gazans Willing to Leave, Survey Finds

35 minutes ago

Texas Governor Greg Abbott Threatens Texas City Over Pro-Palestinian Resolution

1 hour ago

Anti-Israel Boycott Bill Withdrawn from Congressional Vote

2 hours ago

Ravens Release Justin Tucker After Accusations by Massage Therapists of Inappropriate Behavior

U.S. President Donald Trump greets Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., May 6, 2025. (REUTERS/Kent Nishimura)
2 hours ago

Carney Meets Trump in Bid to Reset Strained Canada-US Relations

2 hours ago

Draymond Green’s Vow to Keep His Cool Helps Warriors Advance to in West Semis

2 hours ago

Ian Happ Homers as the Cubs Beat the Sloppy Giants

2 hours ago

Ohtani and Freeman Homer off Alcántara as Dodgers Beat Marlins

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend