The landscape of the Black church. Historically, the black church has been a bedrock of the black community. But things are changing. Data shows there's a decline in political liberalism and a rise in conservatism within the Black church. This shift, is shaking up traditional allegiances to the Democratic Party. An the Black church is not a direct avenue to all prospective black voters. Young Black voters are not as connected to the church as their parents were.
As we look toward the 2024 presidential election, Democrats
face a big challenge. They need to secure the black vote, especially among
those who aren't as connected to traditional denominations.
Democratic nominee Vice President Kamala Harris said she
knows she is the underdog and is counting on grassroots engagement to win. She's getting a lot of support from Black
Christian leaders. Why? Because of the Biden Administration’s commitment to
equity and inclusivity throughout the federal government. Her candidacy has
sparked a wave of enthusiasm across all segments including Black churches. It's
reminding many of the exciting itch for change surrounding Barack Obama's 2008
campaign.
Republican nominee Donald Trump has loyalty from his
quotient of Black supporters and his
personality is appealing to some Black men. However, most Black voters just don’t trust him. As for how mainline Black clergy
see Trump he is not viewed as an ally to the community at large. Yet, the Brookings Institute a reputable
social research entity says that while many African Americans are moving away
from the Democratic Party, they are not moving towards the Republican Party in
any meaningful way. This could mean Black
Church Voters have lost faith in the voting process – especially given that Republicans
repealed the Voting Rights Act that Democrats have failed to restore – or it could mean that the Black vote will be split in all
directions.
Black Americans are projected to account for 14.0% of eligible voters in the U.S. in November, according to Pew Research Center projections. This demographic represents just over 13 percent of all voters.
So what does this mean for 2024?
For both Harris and Trump there is a challenge and opportunity to reel in Black
faith-based voters who have the power to choose the next president. To do this
they must connect with these voters on a deeper level. It’s about making a sincere
emotional connection instead of fear-mongering, a tactic that has been used by
Democrats and Republicans. Voters must feel
their needs are understood and will be met.
And with Kamala Harris at the
forefront, Democrats might just have a chance to do that. In the end, it's all
about voter turnout.