Okay, let’s start with a quick reality check. Picture this: it’s Election Day, 2024, and there’s a long line of Black men at the polls. You might think they’re all there to cast their vote for Donald Trump, because, you know, his policies just speak to us on a deep, spiritual level—right? Yeah, no. That's about as likely as Trump showing up at a Black barbershop and getting the lineup exactly right.
Let’s be real for a second. The idea that Black men are flocking to vote for Trump because we just adore his policies is the biggest joke since… well, since Trump himself. Even if we did agree with some of his policies (and spoiler alert: we mostly don’t), the man has a knack for saying and doing the absolute worst things to win our votes. It’s almost as if he’s trying to lose on purpose. But hey, who are we to judge his campaign strategy?
So, let’s dive into this and break down why, even if we found ourselves in some bizarre parallel universe where Trump’s policies didn’t make us cringe, we’re still not pulling the lever for him. And yes, it’s got a lot to do with those racist, sexist comments about Black women. Because, as you might’ve guessed, we actually like and respect the women in our community. Shocking, I know!
1. Policies? What Policies?
Alright, let’s humor ourselves and start with the idea that some Black men might consider voting for Trump because of his policies. Let’s say you’re a guy who’s really into tax cuts for the rich (because obviously, the everyday Black man is just rolling in dough), deregulation (because we just can’t get enough of those polluted neighborhoods), and the idea of a border wall (because, uh… reasons?). Yeah, you might think, “This Trump guy speaks my language.”
But let’s not kid ourselves. The vast majority of Black men aren’t exactly lining up to support policies that disproportionately harm people who look like us. It’s kind of like ordering a steak at a vegan restaurant—sure, you can do it, but everyone’s going to look at you like you’ve lost your damn mind.
And even if you were that one-in-a-million Black man who thinks trickle-down economics is a fantastic idea (we’re still waiting for the trickle, by the way), there’s just no getting past the fact that Trump’s policies are wrapped in a big, ugly bow of “Make America Great Again”—which, as we all know, is code for “Make America White Again.” Hard pass.
2. That “What Have You Got to Lose?” Thing
Remember when Trump asked Black people, “What have you got to lose?” when he was trying to win our votes in 2016? It was like watching someone try to sell you a broken-down car with the pitch, “Well, it’s already a piece of junk, so why not make it worse?”
It’s not that we don’t understand the question. We get it. But here’s the thing, Donnie: we’ve got a lot to lose. We’ve got our dignity, our respect, and our sense of self-worth. And believe it or not, those things matter more to us than whatever tax break you’re promising the top 1%.
See, when you ask us what we’ve got to lose, it feels like you’re saying we’re already at rock bottom and you couldn’t possibly make things worse. But the truth is, things can always get worse. Like, for example, having a president who makes racist, sexist comments about Black women on the regular. But we’ll get to that in a minute.
3. Speaking of Black Women…
Now, let’s get to the real meat of the issue: Trump’s habit of dragging Black women through the mud every chance he gets. It’s like he’s on a mission to insult every Black woman in America, one tweet at a time.
Let’s start with the obvious. Trump has a history of attacking Black women who dare to speak their minds or, heaven forbid, criticize him. From calling Black women “nasty” to labeling them “low-IQ” (because nothing says presidential like a playground insult), Trump has shown time and time again that he has zero respect for Black women. And here’s a newsflash: Black men actually care about how you treat the women in our community.
You see, Black women are the backbone of our families, our communities, and our movements. They’ve been holding it down for us since day one. So when Trump comes for them with his usual brand of misogynistic, racist vitriol, he’s not just attacking them—he’s attacking us, too.
And no, Donnie, you’re not going to win our votes by throwing out some half-hearted compliment about how much you “love” Black people right after you’ve insulted our mothers, sisters, wives, and daughters. That’s not how this works.
4. The Whole “Both Sides” Thing
Let’s take a trip down memory lane to Charlottesville, where neo-Nazis and white supremacists marched with tiki torches, chanting racist slogans. And what was Trump’s response? “There were very fine people on both sides.”
Now, let’s break this down. When you say there are “very fine people” among a group of racists and white supremacists, you’re sending a pretty clear message to Black men: you don’t care about us or our safety. You’re telling us that our lives and our communities don’t matter as much as the feelings of people who would rather see us back in chains.
It’s not exactly a winning campaign slogan, is it?
So, when Trump comes around in 2024, trying to convince us that he’s the best thing that’s ever happened to Black men, we can’t help but remember that time he gave a wink and a nod to the very people who hate us just for existing. And that’s a dealbreaker, folks.
5. The “Law and Order” President
Ah, “law and order”—the two words that make Black men everywhere roll their eyes so hard they risk permanent damage. Trump loves to call himself the “law and order” president, which, in translation, means he’s all about cracking down on Black and brown communities while turning a blind eye to police brutality.
Let’s get one thing straight: Black men want safe communities just as much as anyone else. But we’re not exactly thrilled about the idea of safety coming at the expense of our lives. When Trump talks about “law and order,” what we hear is more over-policing, more racial profiling, and more excuses for the kind of police violence that has taken too many Black lives.
So, when Trump struts around, bragging about how he’s the only one who can restore order to our “chaotic” cities, we’re not exactly lining up to say, “Sign us up!” We know what “law and order” really means, and we’re not here for it.
6. The Token Black Friend
You know that one guy who always has to remind you that he’s got a “Black friend” whenever he says something racist? Yeah, that’s Trump. He’s the guy who trots out his Black supporters like they’re some kind of rare exotic species, just to prove he’s not racist.
And let’s talk about how he’s always pointing to his (very few) Black supporters as proof that he’s got the Black community in his pocket. It’s like he thinks we’re all going to fall in line just because he found a couple of Black people willing to stand on stage with him.
Sorry, but we’re not that easily swayed. Just because you found a couple of Black folks who think you’re the bee’s knees doesn’t mean the rest of us are going to follow suit. We can think for ourselves, and we can see through the whole “token Black friend” routine.
We’re not buying what you’re selling, Trump. Not even with a Black face on the package.
7. The Whole “Platinum Plan” Gimmick
Oh, the Platinum Plan. Trump’s last-ditch effort to win over Black voters in 2020 by promising a whole bunch of things that sounded great on paper but were about as likely to happen as Kanye West winning the presidency (no shade, Kanye, but you know what we mean).
The Platinum Plan was Trump’s way of saying, “Hey, look, I’m doing something for you guys! Now, vote for me!” But here’s the thing: Black men aren’t stupid. We know an empty promise when we see one, and we’re not falling for the shiny packaging.
Sure, the Platinum Plan had some nice-sounding ideas, but it was too little, too late. After years of watching Trump’s administration roll back civil rights protections, demonize Black protesters, and refuse to address systemic racism, we weren’t exactly convinced that this last-minute plan was anything more than a desperate attempt to win votes.
8. The “You’re Fired” President
Let’s not forget that Trump’s claim to fame before he entered politics was being the host of a reality TV show where his catchphrase was “You’re fired.” And boy, did he bring that energy into the White House.
But here’s the thing: we’re not looking for a reality TV star to run the country. We’re looking for someone who actually cares about the issues that affect our lives, someone who understands the challenges we face as Black men in America, and someone who doesn’t see the presidency as just another season of “The Apprentice.”
We are not going back.
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