BY KIM GILL
Millions of Black women across the nation on social media have decided to check out and focus on their self-preservation following the outcome of the 2024 Presidential Election. With the consequences of a Trump win weighing heavily on Black women, many feel betrayed by communities they helped advocate for.
“We said we are no longer supporting y’all. We never said we wished ill will against your people. That is your fight. That is something y’all need to handle. Why are you so focused that Black people pulled out?” said, popular TikToker @Jusnene in reference to the Pro-Palestinian movement.
Historically, Black women have been on the front lines of most social justice movements in America. Black women are still voting overwhelmingly for Democrats since obtaining the right to vote. In the 2024 Presidential election, exit polls showed that 91% of Black women supported Kamala Harris’ presidential bid. The polls also dismissed claims of division in the Black community as Black men also overwhelmingly voted for Vice President Kamala Harris at 77%. However, when exit polls showed how other marginalized people voted, the Black community were collectively stunned.
With Trump’s controversial stances on race, women’s reproductive rights, immigration, LGBTQ rights, and the Israel and Gaza war, he still polled better than Harris with key demographics. Exit polls showed that 53% of white women voted for Trump, 21% of Black men voted for Trump, and 43% of Latino men voted for Trump despite 60% of Latina women voting for Harris.
According to a tweet by Chris Evans, a small business owner and popular political commentator.
“Black people have no allies,” he stated.
The exit polls also showed that Trump polled overwhelmingly better with Arab Americans in Dearborn, Michigan due to their frustration with the Biden/Harris administration’s response to the Israel/Gaza war. The polls showed that Trump received 55% of the Arab vote compared to Harris’ 13%, while Jill Stein received 18%.
These results infuriated Black female voters particularly because they have been heavily advocating for the war to stop, joining protests, and raising awareness. They also continued to warn the Arab community of the consequences of a Trump vote for Black women. Some even took to TikTok to voice their frustrations and advocated for the Black community to end their boycott of Starbucks, which led to a huge trend of Black creators filming themselves enjoying the products, which also led to criticism from other Black people.
“I understand it, but I don’t think it’s the right move because so much of our power is already gone.” states, Alicia Thomas, a student at Brooklyn College.
Despite feeling defeated and terrified, there have been initiatives to help Black women cope with their grief at Vice President’s election loss and whatever may come with the new incoming Trump administration. Win with Black Women, an intergenerational and intersectional advocacy group comprised of Black women from various industries, which also helped the Vice President raise millions of dollars for her campaign held a Zoom call to help Black women cope and plan for the next four years. More importantly, the aim of the call was to help shift the focus from the election loss and focus on key election wins for Black women.
On the call, U.S. Senators-elect Angela Alsobrooks of Maryland – the first Black person to be elected as a senator in her state and Lisa Blunt Rochester of Delaware, the first Black woman to be elected to the Senate from her state, sent messages of hope to Black women across the country.
“Never forget your power, you truly have the power,” stated Senator-elect Alsobrooks
Also on the call, Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) reflected on how upset she was at the election defeat. She also spoke about how the Vice President called when she was distraught and did not want to leave her home and sent messages of hope.
“For those of you who don’t know what the path forward is, because I think we all need to take our rest, we all need to make sure we need to redirect, and to lean in and rediscover what our purpose is,” said Crockett.