One week after the presidential election, many are still raw after Donald Trump defeated Kamala Harris. According to exit poll data, Black Americans overwhelmingly voted for the vice president, so we asked Black Americans to share their thoughts on the election outcome and the future of a divided America.
Kent Nishimura / Getty Images / Susan Walsh / AP News
Here’s what they had to say:
1.“I’m done. I’m just done. I’m not going to pretend that I’m not hurt or angry because I am. I’m not surprised and I wish I was. I’m not protesting or making calls; I’m not boycotting, going door to door, or signing petitions either. Y’all all wanted Trump, and Trump is who you have.”
“I hope the best for those of you who voted for Harris and Walz, Black or not, but I’m taking a break and focusing on me. I encourage every Black person to do the same thing I’m doing and rest. If red MAGA or anyone else has a problem, oh well. Y’all can revolt or unify on your own. Y’all got it.”
—Maddi8889
Bloomberg / Getty Images
2.“Kamala, like most Black women, did the best she could in the time allotted. I’m not shocked she lost. Americans keep trying to gaslight Black Americans as if they’re not racist. Four years ago, it was crime that was their concern. With crime down and the economy going in the right direction UNDER THE DEMOCRATS, they did gymnastics to use that as their issue. Trump knows his base are bigots, yet they will justify him not being one, missing the point that he knows they’re racist.”
“I’m not worried about the future because this is nothing new for Black Americans. We’ve been through and still continue to go through much worse. Equal Employment Opportunity was a benefit for white women. I look forward to the new level of hell that is on the way for women and POCs who thought he wasn’t referring to them and watching what happens.”
—Anonymous
3.“I feel honestly depressed that so many other communities have taken from us and used us Black people for political gain and POC ‘solidarity,’ but were unable to vote accordingly.”
—Anonymous
4.“I feel numb. What’s sad is the demeaning and degrading words that were spoken about her by Trump and JD Vance. It’s sad. This is how they feel about Black women. She held her head high. I don’t know how he got all those votes.”
5.“It’s a hard pill to swallow, knowing that some of us got conned by Trump. Sure, he tried to appeal to the Black vote, only to insult us more by shoving some lame-ass sneakers in our faces as a means to relate. Even more so, he thought having a rap sheet and going to jail was more ‘relatable.’ Don’t get me going about immigrant POC ‘invading cities.’ Those of you who did, shame on you. You fucked around and now going to truly find out how much he cares.”
—Shaboomer
6.“Sad to say that if slavery were on the ballot today, it would overwhelmingly pass. This is how deeply Trump has stoked the racism in this country, and it came through for him. Also, Kamala was too confident in white women voting for her. They are NEVER dependable when it comes to dismantling patriarchy.”
—joyfulmatcha67
7.“I’m disappointed in America. I thought we knew better. Trump has been running for office for three years. He made you believe there was election interference; there wasn’t. He made you believe migrants were running over America; they aren’t. He made you believe that everyone is against him while leaving out the fact that he’s a known criminal. He made you believe that all of the cases against him were made up as if he didn’t actually commit the crimes.”
“As a Black American, I’m scared. Think about it. If he successfully deports Mexicans, Venezuelans, and El Salvadorans, guess who he’s coming for next. The Haitians, Africans, and Jamaicans. After them will be the Muslims, Asians, and Indians. He wants a white America. He only cares about whiteness in America. That’s scary to those of us who aren’t white.”
—jealousscissors503
Andrew Harnik / Getty Images
8.“My first thought is that this is a perfect example of how Black women have to work twice as hard, be professional, can be fully qualified, and play by the rules and still lose because a white guy can act like a total fuck-up, do the bare minimum, and yet still win. I’m particularly disgusted by all Americans of color who voted for this orange piece of shit. For sure, I’m naive, but still, I can’t wrap my head over the fact that American BIPOCs voted for a guy who has a history of racism and is a sexual predator who also represents other white supremacists. How can you be a person of color and ignore or don’t give a fuck about this?”
—antoinette yoo
9.“I think Black Americans need to 100% turn to developing our own Project 2025 instead of being reactionary and focused on somebody else’s plan. Anytime you don’t have a plan of your own, you will fall victim to somebody else who does have a plan.”
—Anonymous
10.“America is going to be America. This wasn’t because of some people who didn’t show up because they disagreed with her stance on Israel or anything like that.”
“This is solely on the people who saw an educated, tenured, experienced, and professional Black/Asian woman and an old white man with a criminal history and the decency of a carnival hustler who incited an insurrection on our nation’s Capitol by denying the outcome of the 2020 election while espousing Christian values, morality, God, and country.”
—blasianfma
11.“I’m very disappointed by the results of the election. I would like to see another minority president in my lifetime. I would also like to see a female president in my lifetime. I don’t know if that will ever happen now. I work in education, so I am dreading anything happening to the Department of Education. I am also worried for seniors in this country, as ending healthcare is on Trump’s agenda.”
—Anonymous
12.“I am a Black American woman who is also a Gen X’er. How do I feel about Vice President Kamala Harris’s presidential loss to Donald Trump? Stupid. But not because I feel tricked or deceived by the media or any voting block. I feel stupid for forgetting that in this country, Black women are hated, loathed, and reviled. Yet, somehow, I thought because a man named Barack Obama had spent eight years in the White House, that maybe people would not have a hang-up about a biracial woman becoming commander in chief. I should have known better. It is now clear that a racist piece of filth was preferable to many Democratic voters.”
—Anonymous
13.“The majority of the nation spoke loud and clear on Election Day. They will elect anyone before they elect a Black woman for president.”
14.“Disappointed, but not surprised, unfortunately. As a Black person, you have to be perfect, and it’s still not good enough. There are people who would rather watch the country burn than have it run by a woman, especially a Black woman.”
—Anonymous
15.“In all honesty, it’s not completely surprising the way things turned out. But at the same time, I still had a bit of faith that people would do what is best for the people. I just want to ask Trump voters, MAGA, all of you, why do you hate me? I have done nothing to you but try to live my life according to God’s will and plan for me. But I have been hunted by the KKK at my university, and now my people are receiving text messages about showing up to plantation fields to pick cotton. Why? There is nowhere in the Bible where it says one race rules over all.”
“God accepts every race, nationality, and ethnicity and everyone who is willing and open to listen to him. God is love. But you all take God, Jesus’s name, and you spew hate and pain on everyone else who isn’t white. I don’t understand. It is exhausting to live in a country that hates me for being a Black woman. You hate me for literally existing, and I just want to understand why.”
—icyjellyfish17
And finally…
16.“How do I feel? Like America finally cannot ignore its wretched underbelly anymore. No more hand-waving about how minorities and women are treated. No more making uninformed decisions and somehow not having consequences due to privilege. No more scapegoats being lined up for slaughter. This is the USA. This is us.”
—JeyBizness
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