Reel Urban News Politics:

The year 2016 should have been a time of opportunity for the Republican Party to reach out to the black community. Yes, we are still living under the administration of the first black president, and the loyalty of African-Americans to Barack Obama and the Democratic Party can be expected to remain extremely high.

Yet for all the historic support Hillary Clinton and her husband Bill have received from the black community, their reputation there suffers. Blacks have looked back with a critical eye at the criminal justice reforms of the Clinton years; those policies still affect the policing and sentencing of blacks in America. Hillary’s past description of black criminals as “super predators” mars her racial views with the gloss of prejudice. Many black voters, particularly young ones, have been swept up in the wave of anti-establishment fervor that powered Bernie Sanders to an extraordinarily strong second-place finish in the Democratic primary.

These factors, along with the persistently terrible economic and educational state of black America under President Obama, have helped Hillary’s Republican rival, Donald Trump. The Donald’s appeal as a cultural icon has been burnished by his cavorting with black celebrities. It provides Trump the opportunity to present himself as a genuine friend to the black community. But Trump has done very little to step through that somewhat open door.

To be fair, Trump has not been completely dismissive of the black community.

Presidential candidate Donald Trump (C) speaks to the media after meeting with a group of black pastors at his office in the Manhattan borough of New York November 30, 2015. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson - RTX1WKPU
Presidential candidate Donald Trump (C) speaks to the media after meeting with a group of black pastors at his office in the Manhattan borough of New York November 30, 2015. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson –

During the Republican primary Trump convened a high-profile meeting with 100 black ministers where they, presumably, discussed black issues. He has a small cadre of well-known blacks who have endorsed him, including Don King, Mike Tyson, Dennis Rodman, Cleveland pastor Dr. Darrell Scott and most visibly Apprentice star Omarosa Manigault, Trump’s director for African-American outreach. Their support is more than Trump has received from many of his fellow politicians in the GOP.

Still, Trump’s black support is paltry in light of his enormous name recognition, his long-time relationship with segments of the black community, and the opportunity he has had to define himself to black America as something other than your stereotypical conservative.

The main roadblocks to Trump’s ability to successfully reach out to black people are entirely of his own making. One could argue that he lost the black vote five years ago when he launched the Birther Movement questioning Barack Obama’s natural born citizenship. It is, however, interesting that the insinuation that Obama was born in Africa originated with the 2008 Clinton campaign.

Donald Trump appearing before mostly White political rally crowed

Today, Trump’s political strategy is focused on maximizing the white vote, while doing little things here and there to stay semi-palatable to some minorities.

If Hillary Clinton wins 95% of the black vote with Obama-like levels of turnout, victory will be very difficult for Trump to accomplish. Even now some black folk are willing to listen to Trump. But time and love in the black community are running out fast for the brash billionaire.

John Wood, Jr. is a writer, commentator, musician and Second Vice Chairman of the Republican Party of Los Angeles County. John is also a political contributor to Reel Urban News.
John Wood, Jr. is a writer, commentator, musician and Second Vice Chairman of the Republican Party of Los Angeles County. John is also a political contributor to Reel Urban News.