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Let’s take a quick stroll down memory lane to address the impact of the Black vote on opportunity, inclusion, employment, and progress.
First, we want to revisit the election of President John F. Kennedy in 1960, when he won against Richard Nixon with 49.7% to 49.5%; a 0.17% difference in the popular vote which equates to 118,000 voters nationwide (The American Presidency Project). Election historical data substantiates that the Black vote paid a crucial role in his narrow victory for president in 1960.
KENNEDY became an icon and one of the most beloved presidents in American History, including the Black community. As a result, his influence, even after his death, promulgated the passage of significant federal civil rights legislation during the Johnson administration, including the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
The lesson is clear; VOTES matter.
The impact of the Black vote has affected significant outcomes in local, state and national elections. As we are approaching the upcoming mid-term election to be held Tuesday, November 3, 2026, we want to convey the exigency to the electorate that we can’t sit this election out. All Black, Brown and progressive voters must participate in large numbers to minimize any debate about election outcomes. The stakes are too high, and our participation must be substantial enough to ensure that our VOICES are heard at every level of government!
The power of the VOTE.
Black voter participation has influenced significant outcomes in local, state and national elections. In 2018, 51.4 % of Black folk voted which shifted the leadership from Republican to Democrat. In2020, a massive turnout of Black voters led to the victory of President Joe Biden.
The most alarming election data was when President Donald Trump was reelected—Black voters increased from their support for Trump from approximately 8% in 2020 to 15% in 2024 (Pew Research Center). Among Black men, 21% voted for Donald Trump, according to Pew Research Center’s analysis of validated voters); younger Black men voters (The Associated Press) made notable gains.
What did Black people gain from voting for Donald Trump?
When Donald Trump won against Kamala Harris, the popular vote difference was 1.5%--49.8% voted for Trump and 48.3% voted for Harris. Since Donald Trump took office in 2024, these are some of the examples of discriminatory and cruel policies of his administration.
Anti-DEI – Donald Trump began his second term with the statement: “we only hire the best.” As a result, massive, large reduction of Black employment and diversity initiatives have declined or were eliminated in public and private industries based on his ANTI-DEI policies. During the first six months of his presidency, 319,000 Black women professionals employed in the federal government were fired or laid off.
THIS WAS ALL INTENTIONAL and RETAILITORY! They called it DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency). Elon Musk, South African billionaire, was bestowed the power of firing many Black women with no government experience!
Donald Trump directed the removal of Black archival historical artifacts, displays and Black history presentations primarily supported by the Smithsonian Institute and other Art Museums throughout the United States.
Donald Trump instructed the removal of Black historical heroes from the official White House website. This was all done in 2025.The removal included Harriet Tubman, Medgar Evers, and the Tuskegee Airmen. THIS WAS DELIBERATE!
Donald Trump instructed Pete Hegseth, Secretary of Defense, to remove portraits of Black Generals and fired or demoted present military officers.
Donald Trump funded highly paid ICE agents with minimal training, no badges, no warrants but given the authority to capture and deport targeted Brown and Black immigrants with no criminal records (e.g. Hispanic/Latino/Haitians/Caribbeans). This included children and women and placed them in deplorable detention camps. These are law-abiding hardworking communities that have resided in this country for more than 20 years.
Donald Trump’s presidency has significantly increased gas and food prices; legislated illegal tariffs, reduced health insurance benefits, and increased costs; increased rent and utilities; started an illegal IRAN war and increased national debt to $40 trillion dollars. He has destroyed the White House, The Kennedy Center, the Reflection pool, and even the cherry trees which are significant historical landmarks in the nation’s Capital.
Project 2025 is a 900-page policy designed to dismantle civil rights and democratic principles; remove job protection from career civil servants; increase mass deportations, eliminate the Department of Education and end Diversity, Equity and Inclusion programs, to name a few). Donald Trump hired the authors of Project 2025, Russell Vought, Director of the Office of Management and Budget and white nationalist Stephen Miller as his White House Deputy Chief of Staff.
These are just a few of the many atrocities of the policies that have been executed by Donald Trump and his selected cabinet, but let's not forget Donald Trump’s most deplorable act— the removal of President Barack Obama’s portrait from the White House. During Black History Month on February 6, 2026, he posted a picture of the OBAMAs as apes on the official White House website.
There has been very little pushback and outrage from Republicans locally, statewide, and nationally about any of this, including Byron Donalds and Ashley Moody. All Black, Brown, and progressive communities need to VOTE! Most recently, the TRUMP Administration is issuing an all-out voter suppression effort to discourage an scare democratic and independent voters.
VOTE BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY!
WE CAN’T SIT THIS ONE OUT!
About the Authors
Dr. Joan Holmes Mosley is a retired administrator and College professor from Hillsborough College and USF. She is chair of her son’s Brad’s Beyond Ball Foundation and is the president of Holmes Educational Consultant, LLC. Dr. Samuel Wright, Sr. is a retired Student Affairs Administrator from USF and is CEO of Dr. Samuel L. Wright Consulting, LL C. He founded the Black Heritage Festival in 1999.
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