What Are The Limits of Black Men Checking Other Black Men? Why Former President Obama Got It Right and Why Black Men Should Not Vote for Donald Trump.
Former President Obama is drawing criticism for recent comments calling on Black men to turn out for Vice President Harris in November's election.
At a recent campaign stump for Harris in Pittsburgh, Obama said that despite Harris raising upward of $1 billion, "we have not yet seen the same kinds of energy and turnout in all quarters of our neighborhoods and communities as we saw when I was running."
He added that energy lag appears "more pronounced with the brothers."
"You're coming up with all kinds of reasons and excuses; I've got a problem with that," he said. "Because part of it makes me think — and I'm speaking to men directly — part of it makes me think that, well, you just aren't feeling the idea of having a woman as president, and you're coming up with other alternatives and other reasons for that."
Throughout the 2024 presidential election, black men have been increasingly supporting Former President Trump.
Interestingly, Trump made it quite clear during his 2024 presidential campaign trail that he supports full police immunity, in which bad conduct from officers would be excused.
In July 2024, former President Trump was asked about the murder of Sonya Massey. Massey was shot and killed in her Springfield home by a police Officer. Massey had called the police about a break-in within her home. Massey made no threatening remarks or threatening movements but was shot by the Officer. Her story made national news and outcry. Police body cam footage showed the unwanted attack by the Officer. The Officer was charged with aggravated murder in the case and stripped of his police powers.
Trump was asked about Massey's death. Trump replied to the question regarding Massey by saying he wasn't fully up-to-date on the case and discussed recent violence in Chicago as an example of why police officers need more protection in courts and in the view of public opinion.
The American judicial system, including law enforcement, has historically had a love-hate relationship with black men with more hate than love. From mass incarceration, slave catchers to police, decades of police brutality, and just plain American Racism. Law enforcement has played a road in the demise of black men in America. Though all police officers are not morally corrupt, the historical issues with police officers and black men have not fully been corrected by law enforcement, and the past continues to be shown.
With the history between black men and law enforcement, one would ask the question, why would black men want to vote against their own interests with the comments said by Trump.
What is so alluring about Trump that one would forget their own historical civil rights efforts? Have we become so immorally corrupt that money is our God over Integrity?
Most black men are family men who adore their family by being providers, protectors, and present. Still, somehow, some black men have overlooked Trump and Jeff Epstein's friendship or even the court documents that paint the former President as the type of F.A.N Kendrick Lamar was talking about.
Some commentators, including former senator Nina Turner, suggested that former President Obama's remarks to black men were belittling. Though black men are not held to any political party and can vote for their best interest, one has to ask, do black men see that they are voting against their own historical fight? Do black men see they are voting against their own interest when it comes to voting for someone who wants to give police officers complete immunity?
There have been many talks about Harris's race, family, and whether she is black enough. None of this was a deal breaker when Obama ran for President, though Obama has the same type of black American background as Harris. In fact, one can argue Harris has a better black card than Obama. For one, she is from the melting pot of America, the Bay Area, Oakland, to be exact. Second, she went to an HBCU.
Obama is not a foundational black American man, nor has the lineage with the American slave trade( Atlantic slave trade), but black men still played "My President is black" by Jeezy during former President Obama's inaugural.
This is not the first time former President Obama has made comments regarding Black men and his plea for them to not vote for former president Trump.
In the lead-up to the 2020 U.S. presidential election, former President Barack Obama made an impassioned plea to Black men, urging them to carefully consider their vote and reject Donald Trump's re-election bid. His message resonated with a deep understanding of both the historical struggles and current issues affecting Black Americans, particularly Black men. Obama's stance was rooted in a combination of policy, character, and the urgent need to protect hard-won civil rights. Here's why Obama got it right.
- Trump's Policy Failures for Black Communities
Under Trump's administration, many policies exacerbated economic inequality, access to healthcare, and criminal justice issues that disproportionately harm Black men. Despite claims of a "booming" pre-pandemic economy, the structural challenges Black men faced were not alleviated. Trump's tax cuts overwhelmingly favored the wealthy, widening the racial wealth gap. Additionally, his administration's attempts to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA) would have left millions without healthcare access, disproportionately affecting low-income Black communities.
Obama, on the other hand, made healthcare access a key achievement of his presidency through the ACA. His push to expand Medicaid and offer protections for pre-existing conditions directly benefited millions of Black families. The contrast in these policy approaches was stark, with Obama arguing that Black men had more at stake under Trump's policies, which catered primarily to the elite.
- The Harmful Narrative of "Law and Order"
One of Trump's key platforms was his "law and order" rhetoric, which often translated into support for policies that over-policed and criminalized Black communities. The Trump administration openly sided with aggressive policing strategies, rejecting calls for criminal justice reform in the wake of high-profile cases of police brutality, such as the murder of George Floyd.
Black men, who face disproportionately high rates of incarceration and are often the target of systemic discrimination within the justice system, had much to lose under an administration that refused to address these inequalities. Obama's message to Black men was clear: voting for Trump would be voting for the perpetuation of a system that dehumanizes and criminalizes them. His administration, in contrast, worked to reduce mass incarceration and introduced policing reforms such as the creation of the Task Force on 21st Century Policing.
- Moral Leadership and Character Matter
Obama also highlighted the importance of presidential character and moral leadership. Donald Trump's presidency was marked by divisive rhetoric, a lack of empathy, and a disregard for democratic norms. His public statements often emboldened white supremacists, as seen in his infamous "both sides" comment following the 2017 Charlottesville rally, where neo-Nazis marched.
For Black men, who have historically been the targets of racial violence, having a leader who failed to condemn hate groups unequivocally was dangerous. Obama's call for Black men to reject Trump was a call to demand better moral leadership—leadership that does not incite division or undermine the dignity of marginalized communities.
- Trump's Erosion of Civil Rights Protections
Obama was also right in pointing out Trump's dismantling of civil rights protections. The Trump administration rolled back many of the initiatives put in place to combat racial discrimination, including measures aimed at reducing disparities in education, housing, and the workplace. Under Trump's Department of Education, for example, efforts to address racial bias in school discipline policies were reversed, contributing to the "school-to-prison pipeline" that disproportionately affects young Black men.
Voting rights, a cornerstone of civil rights, also came under attack. The Trump administration encouraged voter suppression efforts, such as purging voter rolls and opposing mail-in voting, both of which disproportionately affected Black communities. Obama, who had long championed voting rights and equity, understood that Trump's presidency was a direct threat to these fundamental democratic protections.
- A Historical Context: Progress vs. Regression
Obama's plea was rooted in the understanding of history and the long struggle for Black liberation. From slavery to Jim Crow to the Civil Rights Movement, Black men have continuously fought for the right to be fully recognized as equals in American society. Voting for a candidate like Trump, who embraced regressive policies and divisive rhetoric, was seen by Obama as a step backward in that struggle.
Obama's presidency, despite its challenges, represented a symbolic and substantive milestone for Black Americans. While not all issues were resolved during his tenure, there was a sense of progress—particularly in terms of representation and the advancement of civil rights. Obama's message to Black men was that Trump's re-election would not only halt that progress but also reverse it.
Does Obama's comments towards black men shine a light on the deeper issues between black men in the democratic party? Or the need to hear what black men are demanding for their vote?
Given the fact that Obama is a black man in America, with a black family that is part of the Black American Culture, wouldn't he have the right to make a suggestion to men that he sees himself as? Or did Obama have a case of, "when keeping it real goes wrong?".
Black men are making it clear that they have a voice and they have voting power, but if you're voting for Trump, what is your end game knowing how he feels about police officers?
As we approach the election, only time will tell, but once again, black men are finding themselves in a fight for their vote.