Amplifying Black Perspectives Part 2: Insights from the 2024 Post-Election Survey
Lead Author: Rayna Young, MPP
Methodology
The Center for Policy Analysis and Research at the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation conducted this study to understand the attitudes of Black Americans regarding the 2024 election results and how Black communities are preparing for the Trump Administration. For this analysis, we surveyed 175 Black adults from our CPAR research program, which is primarily composed of attendees of the 53rd Annual Legislative Conference (ALC). We conducted surveys from December 5-12, 2024. The surveys were sent via email and completed independently online. The survey questions are available here.
Introduction
The theme of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s 53rd Annual Legislative Conference (ALC) was From Vision to Victory: Amplifying Black Voices. In recognition of our commitment to uplifting Black communities, the Center for Policy Analysis and Research (CPAR) launched an original data collection project, which culminated in two reports. In the first report, we surveyed ALC attendees on a variety of topics including former Vice President Kamala Harris’ candidacy, election related concerns, and key issues for Black Americans. We found unanimous support for education and criminal justice as key issues for Black Americans, low enthusiasm for immigration and global affairs despite the media attention on them in the 2024 election cycle, and we determined how the intersections of race, gender, sexual orientation, and age impacted the respondents’ perspectives on election-related concerns. You can access the full report here, and the executive summary here. This second report is centered on our post-election survey, which we administered in December 2024. The survey captured the feelings and lifestyle changes of Black Americans as they prepared for the second Trump presidency.
Demographics
Similar to the pre-election report sample, respondents of this survey were predominantly female and highly educated, as all of them attended an institution of higher education for some duration for time. This sample is more evenly divided than the pre-election sample in terms of geography, but as in our original sample, nearly half of the respondents reside in the South.* Gen Z and LGBTQ people were underrepresented in this survey. Black communities are not monolithic, and our research suggests that factors like age, geography, and sexual orientation shaped the respondents’ political attitudes.
* We used the following geographic classifications– The bolded states indicate where our respondents reside: Northeast (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Delaware); Midwest (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota); South (Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Washington, D.C., West Virginia, Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi, Tennessee, Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas); West (Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming, Alaska, California, Hawaii, Oregon, and Washington).
ALC Research Participant Demographics
Two-thirds of respondents have earned or are pursuing an advanced degree, and all of them have attended an institution of higher education.
There were more respondents from Gen X than any other group, but the respondents were evenly divided between Millennials and Baby Boomers. Gen Z is underrepresented in this sample.
Nearly half of the respondents live in the South.
Pre- and Post-Election Feelings and Behaviors
Voting in the 2024 Election Cycle
In a close election, Donald Trump defeated Kamala Harris, becoming the first Republican candidate to win the popular vote in twenty years. National pre-election polls indicated that Black men were less supportive of Kamala Harris’ candidacy than previous Democratic candidates, but national exit polling data showed otherwise.1 Over 75% of Black men voted for Kamala Harris, and our respondents supported her at even higher rates. One hundred percent of male respondents said they voted for Kamala Harris, and all of them said they would not change their votes if the election happened again today. All Baby Boomers, Gen Z, and LGBTQ respondents voted for Kamala Harris as well. We found nearly unanimous support for Kamala Harris, with over 95% of the respondents voting for her.
Nearly all of the respondents voted for Kamala Harris.
Heterosexual respondents and LGBTQ respondents voted for Kamala Harris at nearly identical rates.
Female respondents and male respondents supported Kamala Harris at nearly identical rates. Nationally, 92% of Black women and 78% of Black men voted for Kamala Harris.
Millennials were slightly less likely to vote for Kamala Harris than respondents in other age groups, but there was widespread support for Kamala Harris in our sample.
Election Sentiments
Most respondents used words with positive connotations to describe their feelings prior to the election, but they also expressed a sense of nervousness.
In the pre-election report, we found that Black Americans were enthusiastic about the 2024 election and Kamala Harris’ candidacy. We asked respondents of this survey about their feelings before and after the 2024 Election. Most respondents were nervous but optimistic in the days leading up to the election, which is consistent with the pre-election report. In the aftermath of the election, respondents’ top feelings were “frustrated” and “discouraged.” Below we detailed some of the respondents’ feelings about the election. We also asked respondents to elaborate on their feelings and have highlighted select quotes throughout the report.
“I was nervous that it was going to be a close election and optimistic that it would turn out in my preferred candidate’s favor.”
—Anonymous, Gen Z, heterosexual, Black man from the South
Most respondents used words with negative connotations to describe their post-election feelings.
“I’m not afraid. Black people, specifically, have been the heart of this country and we have achieved incredible victories under terrible conditions. We will do that again. I am very, very frustrated that people voted to hurt others and likely also harm themselves unwittingly.”
—Anonymous, Gen X, heterosexual, Black woman from the South
Post-Election Activities
One month after the election, we surveyed Black Americans on how their behavior at that time compared to their typical habits related to activism, saving money, contraceptive options, vaccinations, and news consumption—on television and social media.
Over 50% of respondents reported a decrease in national news viewership but were engaging with local news at about the same rate as before. Respondents were split between “Less Often” and “The Same Amount” for both saving money and getting information from social media after the election. Most respondents did not express urgency about updating their vaccines. About 30% of respondents increased their participation in social justice organizations in the wake of the election. In summary, the majority of our respondents did not increase their participation in any of these behaviors and were split between engaging less often and at the same rates as they did prior to the election. These results indicate that one month after the 2024 election, Black Americans were employing a variety of approaches to prepare for Donald Trump’s second term.
More than half of the respondents followed national news less frequently than they did before the election.
About one-third of respondents followed local news less frequently than they did before the election, but most respondents were engaging with local news at the same level.
Respondents were split between consuming social media at the same rate as they did before the election and consuming less information on social media after the election.
Respondents did not indicate a change in urgency around updating their vaccines.
Over a quarter of respondents increased their participation in civic engagement or social justice work.
Most respondents found this scenario not applicable.
Respondents were split between saving money at the same rate and saving money more frequently.
Post-Election Activities by Demographic
In the pre-election report, we examined how the intersections of race, gender, and age affected respondents’ perspectives on key issues. We identified a drop-off between those who were and were not most acutely affected by the issues. For example, male respondents were less likely to say reproductive rights was a key issue for Black Americans than female respondents. In this report, we looked at three key post-election activities by age group and gender to determine if the same principle applied. In many cases, it did. Millennials and female respondents maintained or increased their interest in contraceptive options after the election, while male respondents and those of older generations did not find that situation applicable to them. President Donald Trump appointed the Supreme Court justices who helped overturn Roe v. Wade, eliminating federal protections for abortions. Our results indicate that women and Millennial respondents were preparing for the second Trump Administration by considering contraceptive options, as they expect to be more significantly impacted by further attacks on reproductive rights. Men and respondents outside of the typical age range to start a family were less concerned about this issue. Male respondents and Baby Boomers also significantly decreased their social media consumption after the election, . Though we do not know the specific catalyst, male and Baby Boomer respondents’ reduction in social media consumption suggests a change in the social media algorithm or their attitudes towards it in the wake of the election.
Despite these differences, respondents were unified in some of their post-election activities. Respondents in every age group were split between saving more money after the election and saving the same amount. This could be attributed to the economic changes that President Trump has proposed, including tariffs and tax cuts for wealthy Americans.2
Personal Finance
Millennials were split between saving money at the same rate and saving money more frequently.
Gen X respondents were split between saving money at the same rate and saving money more frequently.
Baby Boomers were split between saving money at the same rate and saving money more frequently.
Female respondents were split between saving more money and saving the same amount.
About half of male respondents did not change their saving habits after the election.
Contraception
One in ten Millennial respondents considered contraceptive options more than they did before the election.
Gen X respondents did not change their level of consideration for contraceptive options after the election.
The vast majority of Baby Boomer respondents did not think that exploring contraceptive options was applicable to them.
Most female respondents found this situation not applicable, but over a quarter of respondents haven’t changed their contraceptive options after the election.
Most male respondents found this situation not applicable, but about one in five male respondents haven’t changed their contraceptive options after the election.
Social Media
Most Millennial respondents consumed information from social media at the same rate that they did prior to the election, but about a quarter of them reduced their engagement after the election.
Most Gen X respondents consumed information from social media at the same rate that they did prior to the election, but over a third of them reduced their engagement after the election.
Most respondents from the Baby Boomer generation consumed information from social media less often than they did before the election.
Female respondents were split: The majority of female respondents consumed information from social media at the same rate or more often, but over one-third of them have been on social media less since the election.
Nearly two-thirds of male respondents consumed less information from social media in the month following the election.
Perceptions of the Trump Administration
Positive and Negative Impacts of the Trump Administration
After assessing how respondents felt about the 2024 election, we surveyed them on key issues and specific policies to better understand their concerns. An overwhelming majority of respondents did not believe the Trump Administration would have a positive impact on any key issues, ranging from healthcare to civil rights. Additionally, every respondent identified at least one area that they believe the Trump Administration will negatively impact. This consensus across different age groups, political affiliations, and regions suggests that Black Americans believe that the Trump Administration poses a unique threat to their priorities.
A small group of respondents thought that the Trump Administration would positively impact economic opportunity. After the election, the media attributed Donald Trump’s increased popularity with men of color to his economic vision.3 We analyzed our data along gender lines to determine whether our results supported that narrative. We found that only 16% of male respondents said that the Trump Administration would have a positive impact on economic opportunity, compared to 21% of female respondents. Again, our results differ from the mainstream media narrative about Black male voters. This discrepancy could be attributed to the education level of our sample, which exceeds the national average. However, it still highlights the importance of providing Black voters with opportunities to discuss their voting record and listening to their rationale.
Respondents were most concerned that the Trump Administration will have a negative impact on civil rights.
“I feel that all people of color will be targets [of] the new administration. The next 4 years will be very hard, and we will continue to lose our civil rights.”
—Anonymous, Baby Boomer, heterosexual, Black woman from the Northeast
“We are facing significant attacks on democracy, human rights and truth. We stand to have significant parts of history banned and erased; long standing civil rights are being dismantled… lots to be nervous about.”
—Anonymous, Millennial, heterosexual, Black woman from the West
Some respondents believed that the Trump Administration will have a positive impact on economic opportunity, but the majority of respondents did not believe that the Trump Administration will positively impact any of the key issues listed.
“I feel discouraged because everyone quickly turned optimistic about the economy under Trump’s administration without seeing the bigger picture that Trump’s economy still excludes people of color.”
—Anonymous, heterosexual, Millennial, Black woman from the Northeast
“I’m nervous about the explicit forms of racism, sexism, and classism that are looming from this new administration.”
—Anonymous, heterosexual, Millennial, Black woman from the South
The majority of male respondents did not believe the Trump Administration will have a positive impact on any of these issues.
“As I do federal policy work, I believe that it will be difficult to advance a community safety agenda in the next 2-4 years that is affirmative and noncarceral.”
—Anonymous, Millennial, heterosexual, Black man from the Northeast
“Donald Trump is a convicted criminal with a dangerous policy agenda. If you’re not dejected by his victory, I don’t know what to tell you.”
—Anonymous, Millennial, gay, Black man from the Northeast
The majority of female respondents did not believe the Trump Administration will have a positive impact on any of these issues, but a sizable percentage of respondents believe that the Trump Administration would positively impact economic opportunity.
“I’m concerned this incoming administration is going to take away Black [Americans’] basic rights to vote, go to school, and get housing.”
—Anonymous, Millennial, heterosexual, Black woman from the West
“I am strategic enough to see the opportunities under the Trump administration and I will take advantage of them and figure out how to give back to my community in the form of philanthropy.”
—Anonymous, Gen X, heterosexual, Black woman from the South
Post-Election Concerns
We asked respondents to share their thoughts on fifteen policies that either President Trump had proposed or were outlined in Project 2025. Respondents were gravely concerned about all of the policies on which they were polled. The majority of respondents voiced the greatest level of concern about fourteen of the fifteen topics. The exception was increased police funding, which is unexpected given that, in the pre-election survey, respondents unanimously identified criminal justice as a key issue for Black Americans. Respondents’ greatest concerns were the elimination of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives and cuts to Medicare and Medicaid. The media’s post-election analysis has been centered on immigration reform and economic issues like taxation and tariffs, but those issues were, notably, not top of mind for the Black Americans we surveyed.
Post-Election Concerns: Federal Policy
Eliminating the Department of Education
Mass deportations of undocumented immigrants
Elimination of diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives
■ Very Concerned
■ Somewhat Concerned
■ Neither Concerned Nor Unconcerned
■ Not Concerned At All
■ Not Sure
Respondents’ top concern was the elimination of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. The elimination of the Department of Education was also a major concern. Respondents were significantly less concerned with the mass deportation of immigrants than the aforementioned issues.
“As a Black queer person in America who has family members who are immigrants, I’m very scared of what is to come around their rights and mine.”
—Anonymous, Millennial, queer, Black man from the Northeast
Post-Election Concerns: Healthcare
Cuts to Medicare and Medicaid
Cuts to Social Security and Disability Insurance
Dismantling the Affordable Care Act
■ Very Concerned
■ Somewhat Concerned
■ Neither Concerned Nor Unconcerned
■ Not Concerned At All
■ Not Sure
Healthcare issues were very concerning to respondents.
“I am a Black woman with a disability, and I can barely make ends meet. [I’m concerned about] if I will be able to pay my bills, eat, and continue to work.”
—Anonymous, Gen X, heterosexual, Black woman from the Northeast
Post-Election Concerns: Taxes
Taxes increasing for you and your family
Taxes decreasing for people wealthier than you
Tariffs on imported goods
■ Very Concerned
■ Somewhat Concerned
■ Neither Concerned Nor Unconcerned
■ Not Concerned At All
■ Not Sure
Respondents were slightly more concerned about tax reform than they were about tariffs.
“Trump’s comment about raising tariffs on imported goods to alleviate costs here is just nonsense and the fact that people don’t understand that frustrates me.”
—Anonymous, Millennial, heterosexual, Black multiracial woman from the Northeast
Post-Election Concerns: Reproductive Rights and LGBT Issues
Federal ban on abortions
Reduced access to contraceptives
The safety of transgender people
■ Very Concerned
■ Somewhat Concerned
■ Neither Concerned Nor Unconcerned
■ Not Concerned At All
■ Not Sure
Respondents were significantly more concerned about attacks on reproductive rights than the safety of transgender people during the Trump Administration.
“Being an American citizen, and a woman of color, I’m not sure what my future holds under the president elect.”
—Anonymous, Millennial, heterosexual, Black woman from the Northeast
Post-Election Concerns: Criminal Justice and Economic Policy
Stricter sentencing laws for drug charges
Increased police funding
Elimination of overtime benefits
■ Very Concerned
■ Somewhat Concerned
■ Neither Concerned Nor Unconcerned
■ Not Concerned At All
■ Not Sure
Respondents were more concerned about the elimination of overtime benefits than criminal justice reforms. These issues were less concerning to respondents overall.
“The proposed plans for the incoming administration are very much in the air and not strategically being thought out.”
—Anonymous, Baby Boomer, heterosexual, Black woman from the South
Spotlight: Post-Election Concerns by Geographic Region
The pre-election report analyzed the concerns of Southern respondents in comparison to the other regions (Northeast, Midwest, and West) to see if the South’s unique racial history affected election perceptions. We found that Southern respondents had a higher level of concern about the election than respondents from other regions. For this post-election report, we conducted another regional analysis of Black Americans’ opinions of Trump Administration policies. We found that Southern respondents had a lower level of concern than the other respondents. The biggest discrepancies between the South and other regions centered around criminal justice. The percentages of “Very Concerned” respondents were 47% vs. 64% for stricter sentencing laws for drug charges and 40% vs. 55% for increased police funding for Southern vs. Non-Southern respondents, respectively. This insight differs from the pre-election report, where respondents unanimously said criminal justice was a key issue for Black Americans. In fact, the only situation where Southern respondents were more concerned than respondents from other regions was the elimination of the Department of Education. Southern schools receive a higher percentage of federal funding than the national average, which could contribute to their increased level of concern about this issue.4
Lifestyle Changes in a New Political Climate
To determine how the election impacted Black Americans, we asked respondents about various personal decisions before and after the 2024 election. The indicators we selected reflect measures of personal and financial security and provide insight into whether respondents made any lifestyle changes in the wake of Donald Trump’s victory.
Respondents Who Were Considering Lifestyle Changes Before the Election
This analysis is focused on respondents who were considering making lifestyle changes before the election to determine if they were still considering those changes in the new political environment. Respondents who were considering moving abroad or purchasing a firearm prior to the election showed the most consistency, as over 90% were still considering those lifestyle changes in the aftermath of the election. Only half of the respondents who were interested in moving to a different state before the election were still considering it after the election.
Notably, 24% of respondents who were planning on having children are no longer considering this after the election. The change could be attributed to President Trump’s stance on reproductive rights, as he voted to support Florida’s six-week abortion ban and appointed the Supreme Court justices who helped eliminate federal protections for abortions.5 Amidst the U.S.’ Black maternal mortality crisis, Black Americans appear hesitant to start families given the attacks on reproductive healthcare and the costs of family planning.
Our respondents also indicated concerns about worsening economic conditions during the Trump Administration. Approximately one-third of respondents who had been considering large purchases or job changes abandoned those plans after the election. President Trump has discussed plans to implement tariffs, or taxes on imported goods, which would raise prices on our imports from Canada, China, and Mexico.6 Given the expected economic changes, staying in the same job may reflect job market concerns or risk aversion, mirroring the hesitation to make large purchases.
Over 90% of respondents who were considering leaving the United States before the election are still considering it after the election.
“I was only joking about leaving the country if he won the first time, now I am actively researching leaving and working for several years overseas until America wakes us and realized that authoritarianism is toxic and DANGEROUS!”
—Anonymous, Millennial, bisexual, Black woman from the Midwest
Over 90% of respondents who were considering buying a firearm before the election are still considering it after the election.
“The president-elect is a threat to our freedom and our democracy. As a Black woman in this country, the president-elect is a DIRECT threat to my personal safety, livelihood and well-being.”
—Anonymous, Gen X, heterosexual, Black woman from the South
Respondents who were considering moving to a different state before the election are now split: half of respondents are still considering it, but about 40% of respondents are no longer considering it.
“I am continuing to stay steadfast in God’s word and aware of today’s happenings and the role I must walk out for me, my family, and humanity.”
—Anonymous, Baby Boomer, heterosexual, Black man from the South
A quarter of respondents who were planning to have a child are no longer considering it in the aftermath of the election.
“I don’t know what will happen to me and my family now.”
—Anonymous, Baby Boomer, heterosexual, Black woman from the Northeast
About one-third of respondents who were planning to make large purchases have stopped considering those purchases after the election.
“I anticipate the next four years will be full of things we have never seen before, and not in a progressive positive manner.”
—Anonymous, Gen X, heterosexual, Black woman from the South
Nearly two-thirds of respondents who were considering changing jobs before the election are still considering it in the aftermath of the election.
“I am still processing, not giving into fear, and identifying ways to protect the mental, emotional, physical, spiritual and financial well-being of my family and I.”
—Anonymous, Gen X, heterosexual, Black woman from the South
Respondents Who Were Not Considering Lifestyle Changes Before the Election
This analysis is focused on respondents who were not considering making lifestyle changes before the election to determine if the new political environment prompted them to adjust their lifestyle. In this sample, we saw the greatest increase in interest for purchasing a firearm and leaving the United States, which were also the most popular lifestyle changes in the previous analysis. About 40% of respondents who were not considering moving abroad or purchasing a firearm before the election expressed interest in doing so after the election. These changes reflect concerns about both the nation’s future and personal safety.
Respondents showed the most consistency in refraining from large purchases, as only 7% expressed new interest in buying a house or car after the election. This supports the earlier conclusion that Black Americans experienced economic anxiety in anticipation of Donald Trump taking office. Notably, twenty-eight percent of respondents who were not considering changing jobs before the election were interested in doing so post-election. Our sample includes many government workers, and the election results may have raised concerns about their job security. The Trump Administration validated these concerns when it recently issued Executive Orders that forced federal workers to return to the office full time, incentivized workers to resign by September, and laid off thousands of employees in areas ranging from international development to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI)7.
About 40% of respondents who were not considering leaving the United States were considering it in the aftermath of the election.
“It is time for black people to exit this country.”
—Anonymous, Gen X, heterosexual, Black woman from the South
About 40% of respondents who were not considering buying firearms were considering it in the aftermath of the election.
“America doesn’t like black women. I don’t feel safe. Racists are emboldened.”
—Anonymous, heterosexual, Gen X, Black woman from the South
Most respondents who were not considering moving to a different state prior to the election were also not considering it in the aftermath of the election.
“I have resolved to be more determined than ever to ensure pressure is placed on our local government to address and mitigate the impact of new legislation from the upcoming administration.”
—Anonymous, heterosexual, Millennial, Black woman from the Midwest
More than a quarter of respondents have a new interest in changing jobs in the aftermath of the election.
“As a young Black woman who works in federal policy, this election caused a lot of doubt in the trajectory of my career, at least from a passion stance.”
—Anonymous, Gen Z, heterosexual, Black woman from the South
Respondents who were not considering making large purchases before the election were also not considering it immediately after the election.
“I fear for my life, my home, my livelihood, and the futures of me and those who look like me.”
—Anonymous, Baby Boomer, heterosexual, Black woman from the South
“The outcomes of the election don’t align with the values or needs of my community. Racial justice, equity, and fair treatment—will not be prioritized or supported.”
—Anonymous, heterosexual, Gen X, Black woman from the Northeast
Conclusion
One month after the 2024 Election, we polled Black Americans on their reactions to the election results, concerns about new policies, and preparations for the Trump Administration. Respondents voted almost unanimously for former Vice President Kamala Harris across age, gender, and sexual orientation, and they expressed a deep sense of disappointment and frustration following the election. Our data suggests that Black Americans are torn on the best way to approach this new political environment. Respondents were unified on the issues of greatest concern—eliminating the Department of Education, DEI initiatives, and civil rights–but were split in terms of how to best prepare for the Trump Administration. Some respondents began to save more money, while some made large purchases. More respondents were considering moving abroad in the aftermath of the election, but, overall, respondents were less likely to consider changing jobs after the election. This reveals conflicting attitudes and behaviors. While some respondents indicated that the Trump Administration would positively impact the economy, three in four respondents expressed concern about taxes increasing and the effects of tariffs on their family. Respondents also expressed less concern about criminal justice issues, but reported greater interest in purchasing a firearm, which
Similar to the pre-election report conclusions, we found that intersecting identities shape the concerns and priorities of Black Americans. However, when we surveyed respondents on fifteen key issues, their intersecting identities made less of a distinguishable difference in their responses. Millennials and female respondents were more likely to explore contraceptive options in the wake of the election than other demographics. However, in the regional comparison, Southern respondents had a lower level of concern than respondents from other regions for fourteen of the fifteen issues. This runs contrary to the results of the pre-election report, where Southern respondents were more likely to answer “Very Concerned” about election-related issues, while respondents from other regions had a milder reaction. This may be because Southern respondents will be less impacted by a rollback of civil rights on the federal level than respondents in other regions. Nine of the twelve Southern states represented by respondents have conservative governors and policies that do not align with respondents’ values, including abortion bans, underfunded schools, and opting out of the Medicaid expansion. In the Northeast, where more progressive governors have implemented policies that affirm racial equity, the threat of a federal law overriding state legislation is more pronounced. In the case of reproductive rights, many Southern states already face restrictive abortion bans. A federal abortion ban would not elicit as much concern in the South as in states that have voted to protect abortion access.
By analyzing both the pre-election and post-election reports together, we identified several key themes. First, we found a consistent interest in education and healthcare before and after the 2024 election. All of the pre-election survey respondents believed education was a key issue for Black Americans, and over 90% of post-election survey respondents expressed concern about President Trump’s campaign promise to eliminate the Department of Education. Pre-election survey respondents ranked healthcare in the top five highest priorities for Black Americans, while an overwhelming majority of the post-election respondents were very concerned about cuts to Medicaid, Medicare, and the Affordable Care Act under the Trump Administration. Second, we observed that respondents’ perspectives on immigration shifted over time. In the pre-election report, more than one-third of respondents said that immigration was not a key issue for Black Americans. However, one month after the election, four out of five respondents expressed deep concern about the Trump Administration’s proposal to initiate mass deportations of undocumented immigrants. Our results show that
Only six weeks into Donald Trump’s second term, many respondents’ concerns have been realized. On his first day in office, President Trump issued executive orders to cut diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives from federal programs, redefine birthright citizenship, and withdraw the U.S. from the Paris Climate Accords.8 His administration has issued tariffs on Mexico, Canada, and China, threatened to deport American citizens to El Salvador, and mandated that transgender prisoners be detained according to their sex at birth.9 These policies, as one respondent noted, do not reflect Black Americans’ priorities. However, the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation remains steadfast in our commitment to justice, equality, and opportunity. We will continue to amplify Black voices in all of our work.
Reference Notes
1 Khalid, A. (2024, October 29). New polling finds Harris gaining with a group she has struggled with: Black men. NPR. https://www.npr.org/2024/10/28/nx-s1-5169193/2024-election-kamala-harris-black-voters-donald-trump; Bunn, C. (2024, November 7). Harris showed minimal losses among Black men, but analysts say she should have won more. NBC News. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/nbcblk/78-black-mens-support-pollsters-say-done-better-rcna178899.
2 Crumley, B. (2025, January 3). Economists Fear Trump’s Tariff Policies Will Harm U.S. Growth. Inc. https://www.msn.com/en-us/politics/government/economists-fear-trump-s-tariff-policies-will-harm-u-s-growth/ar-AA1wXLe7?ocid=BingNewsSerp.
3 Brown, M., et. al. Young Black and Latino Men Say They Chose Trump Because of the Economy and Jobs. Here’s How and Why. (2024, November 10). The Associated Press. https://apnews.com/article/young-black-latino-men-trump-economy-jobs-9184ca85b1651f06fd555ab2df7982b5.
4 USA Facts. (2023, July 21). How are public schools funded?. USA Facts. https://usafacts.org/articles/how-are-public-schools-funded/.
5 Price, M. L. (2024, August 30). Trump says he’ll vote to uphold Florida abortion ban after seeming to signal he’d support repeal. The Associated Press. https://apnews.com/article/trump-abortion-florida-six-weeks-ae0ce47cb2af82a6586fa19235ea2226.
6 Crumley, B. (2025, January 3). Economists Fear Trump’s Tariff Policies Will Harm U.S. Growth. Inc. https://www.msn.com/en-us/politics/government/economists-fear-trump-s-tariff-policies-will-harm-u-s-growth/ar-AA1wXLe7?ocid=BingNewsSerp.
7 Allen, T. (2025, January 20). Trump Signs Order Ending Remote Work; Mandates Federal Workers Return To Office. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/terinaallen/2025/01/20/trump-signs-order-ending-remote-work-mandates-federal-workers-return-to-office/; Treene, A., & Luhby, T. (2025, February 4). Trump administration plans sweeping layoffs among workers who don’t opt to resign. CNN. https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/trump-administration-plans-sweeping-layoffs-among-workers-who-don-t-opt-to-resign/ar-AA1ypUxu?ocid=BingNewsSerp; Toosi, N., & Granger, R. (2025, February 4). Trump puts USAID staff around the world on leave. Politico. https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/trump-puts-usaid-staff-around-the-world-on-leave/ar-AA1yqHYI?ocid=BingNewsSerp.; Olson, A., & Miller, Z. (2025, January 22). Trump administration directs all federal diversity, equity and inclusion staff be put on leave. The Associated Press. https://apnews.com/article/dei-trump-executive-order-diversity-834a241a60ee92722ef2443b62572540.
8 Barrow, B. (2025, January 22). Everything Trump did in the first executive orders and actions of his presidency. Associated Press. https://apnews.com/article/what-has-trump-done-trump-executive-orders-f061fbe7f08c08d81509a6af20ef8fc0.
9 Schneid, R. (2025, February). What Are Tariffs and Why Is Trump In Favor of Them? TIME Magazine. https://time.com/7212166/what-are-tariffs-trump-imposing-import-taxes/.; Lewis, S. (2025, February 4). Trump administration to study legality of El Salvador offer to host U.S. prisoners. Reuters. https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world/trump-administration-to-study-legality-of-el-salvador-offer-to-host-us-prisoners/ar-AA1ypPu7?ocid=BingNewsSerp; Mulvihill, G. (2025, February 1). Things to know about how Trump’s policies target transgender people. The Associated Press. https://apnews.com/article/trump-transgender-order-passports-prisons-military-3c14ecbdd10f61618384e81624d090fb.