Democrats can’t afford to ignore the party’s Black male exodus

As we head toward the 2024 elections, a stark and alarming trend confronts the Democratic Party: the noticeable drift of Black male voters toward the Republican camp, a shift that should ring loud warning bells. 

This isn’t just a subtle change — it’s a significant and ominous signal. 

In the 2020 election, Donald Trump secured about 12 percent of the Black male vote, a notable increase from the 8 percent he garnered in 2016. These numbers are more than just statistics, they represent a profound sense of disillusionment and neglect felt by Black male voters within the Democratic Party.

This shift signals a severe communication breakdown and a failure in representation by the Democratic Party. It stems from a dangerous presumption of unwavering Black male loyalty, an assumption that is now proving to be a costly miscalculation. 

The differing approval ratings for Biden’s 2020 campaign, as highlighted by the Pew Research Center, showed a clear gap between Black men and women, with only 69 percent of Black men approving compared to 84 percent of Black women. This disparity is a clear indicator of the unique concerns and lived experiences that the party as a whole has failed to adequately address.

The lack of Black voices in strategic and leadership roles within the Democratic Party further deepens this disconnect. Lacking Black consultants and advisors results in messaging and strategies that do not resonate with the Black community. This isn’t just about optics; it’s a fundamental arrogance in the party’s approach to its most loyal voting bloc. 

As a Black strategist myself, I want to offer some frank advice to my white counterparts in the Democratic Party: To truly galvanize our community, it’s essential to move beyond performative gestures and delve into substantive, meaningful action.

Our voices need to be part of the conversation year-round, not just during election season. This means including Black leaders and constituents in policy-making and genuinely listening to our perspectives. Many in our community still face significant barriers to voting. Acknowledging and actively working to remove these obstacles shows a commitment to our fundamental rights. 

Our support is earned through actions that demonstrate a real understanding of our challenges and a commitment to addressing them, not just by showing up in churches once a year. 

African-American consultants and advisors shouldn’t be a token gesture by the Democratic Party but a reflection of the demographic that has been the most reliable in its support. It’s about seeing more African American faces in positions of power, not just as voters but as policymakers, strategists and leaders within the party.

Republicans have begun to appreciate the power yielded by African American voters. As a result, ignoring the increasing appeal of the Republican Party to Black male voters is a perilous oversight, especially given the potential for Trump’s political resurgence. 

The Republican Party’s strategic messaging and policy initiatives, such as the First Step Act and economic policies targeted at Black workers and entrepreneurs, have found resonance with a segment of Black male voters. These successes, albeit limited policies, have been effectively utilized through targeted campaigning and messaging. A practice that Democrats could better utilize. 

Democrats stand at a decisive juncture and must act swiftly and substantively to reverse Republican efforts to recruit African American voters into the fold. Elevating Black voices to key positions within the party, ensuring Black consultants and strategists are integral to campaign planning and developing policies that genuinely reflect and address the specific needs of Black men must be the first step in any African-American outreach strategy. Moreover, the party must commit to robust, grassroots engagement initiatives that facilitate real dialogue with Black male voters at the community level.

The upcoming decisions and actions of the Democratic Party will have profound implications. Re-engaging and reinvigorating its African American base, particularly those who feel marginalized, is crucial for success in the 2024 election. 

The party must move beyond rhetoric to demonstrate a true commitment to understanding and addressing the diverse needs of the African American community. Failure to do so risks not only the party’s chances in the upcoming election but also the alienation of a vital part of its base, potentially setting the stage for a political landscape increasingly influenced by Republican dominance.

Michael Starr Hopkins is a founding partner at Northern Starr Strategies.