AMPLIFYING BLACK PERSPECTIVES EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Center for Policy Analysis and Research at the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation surveyed Black voters one month after the election to understand their perspectives on the 2024 election results and determine how Black communities were preparing for the Trump Administration. Amplifying Black Perspectives: Insights from the Post-Election Survey is a report that contextualizes Black Americans’ voting behavior and impressions of President Trump’s policy agenda.
Key Findings The report identifies key issues and shared concerns for Black Americans that can help shape legislation on important topics. We found that Black Americans were unified in their concerns about attacks on the Department of Education, DEI initiatives, and civil rights during the Trump Administration. Many respondents’ fears have been realized with President Trump’s executive orders to ban DEI in the federal government and the private sector. Members of Congress can speak out against these orders and communicate with constituents about their plans to fight for Black communities. Respondents expressed continued concern about cuts to Medicaid and Medicare before and after the election. Members of Congress should oppose legislation that reduces access to healthcare for marginalized communities and encourage leaders in their state to adopt Medicaid expansion. Black Americans have become increasingly concerned about immigration. In our preelection report, respondents did not indicate that immigration was a key issue for their community. In the post-election report however, the majority of respondents were very concerned about the mass deportations of undocumented immigrants during the Trump Administration. Members of Congress should engage with their constituents about their rights with respect to the ICE raids and champion humane reforms to the immigration system. Respondents in regions that have more liberal policies expressed greater concern about President Trump’s policy proposals. These respondents fear the impact of a federal rollback of civil rights more than respondents in states with existing restrictions, like statewide abortion bans and voter ID laws. Members of Congress in states that have progressive policies should work to enshrine them on the federal level and fight for policies that not only maintain the status quo but increase equity for all. More than half of respondents are following the national news less closely than they did before the election, and many respondents have decreased local news consumption as well. However, over a quarter of respondents were seeking new opportunities to engage in social justice and civic engagement work. Members of Congress should find creative ways to communicate to constituents outside of the traditional news media and connect with organizations working on the ground to disseminate information.