There was a time in my life when it would have been very difficult, if not impossible, for me to even write about the subject of African-Americans voting for a Republican candidate for president, especially one of Donald Trump’s demeanor and method of race baiting.
Some (and I was once among the group) who classify such blacks that support Republicans as misguided and in some cases traitors to the plight of African-Americans and people of color.
Never mind about the historical fact that President Abraham Lincoln, the sixteenth president who is credited with freeing the slaves through the Emancipation Proclamation, was a Republican.
Furthermore, from a historical perspective, the first African-Americans to occupy political offices in both the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives were Republicans. Also, from the Reconstruction period to the presidency of Franklin D. Roosevelt, blacks were loyal Republicans.
Each of these people who I shall showcase in their support of Donald Trump is a representative of a particular segment (although minute) of African- Americans who are Trump supporters. In order to protect them from the scorn and criticism of many out there who will not have the decency to respect their right to choose and be different from the overwhelming majority of African- Americans with opposing views concerning both Donald Trump and the Republican party, I will use fictitious names when referring to them.
Firstly, there is Beufort McFaddin who is quite successful as a businessman in our locale. He is an outspoken and unashamedly supporter of Donald Trump. He believes that Trump will make a much better president than Hillary Clinton. His Judeo-Christian convictions are the motivation behind why he favors Trump over Hillary Clinton. Due to the fact that she supports abortion, the L.G.B.T. lifestyle, same sex unions, and nearly every other belief or practice of those ultra liberals on the left, he is convinced that she will be bad for the country.
Then there is another African -American that I am very familiar with who once lived in Dillon, but now stays in the state of Maryland. She, like the first person I referred to, is a staunch supporter of Donald Trump, as well as the Republican party. As a matter of fact, Linda cites President Ronald Reagan as her favorite Commander-in-Chief of the modern era. She declares that because of Donald Trump’s business savvy and proven track record as a billionaire businessman, he will bring jobs back to this nation and get our economy back on track. Also, she is convinced that he will deal with our immigration problem by building that wall and sending all of those immigrants who are here illegally back home and thereby freeing up many jobs for American citizens and those immigrants who are here legally.
The last African-American, who is a supporter of Donald Trump that we will briefly consider, is perhaps a representation of others in the group of blacks who have become a Republican and Trump supporter, is a fellow named Ted Smith. Like most of the others in this group of Trump supporters, Ted is very low-key and discrete about whom he talks with about his political views and loyalty. He knows that there will be many who will disdain and label him as an Uncle Tom or traitor if he comes completely out of the closet as a Trump supporter. Ted’s decision to give his endorsement and support to Donald Trump came out of much soul searching and wrangling within himself. After being a life-long Democrat, he started questioning whether or not he was doing the right thing by blindly following and supporting Democrats because he was an African-American. Ultimately, he concluded, given his convictions as a Christian who abhors abortion and the L.G.B.T. lifestyle, as well as same sex marriages, there was just no way that he could continue to be a Democrat or support Hillary Clinton for President of the United States of America, since she fully endorses both of these unbiblical and noxious practices. Furthermore, Ted believes that American needs someone else to occupy the Oval Office other than another Clinton or Bush. This is a view held by many others, whether they are Democrats, Republicans, or Independents. If Hillary Clinton goes on to win the election, this will mean that two families would have occupied the Oval Office as the Commander-in-Chief of the most powerful nation in the world for twenty-four (24) of the last thirty-two (32) years. –
Although, it is not illegal or unconstitutional for members of the same family to run and serve as President, as was done by John Adams, our second President, and his son John Quincy Adams, our eighth Commander-in-Chief, there are many free thinkers in every political, academic, military, business, and even religious circle who believe that such presidential dominance by just two families in such a short span is risky to say the least and can form a dynasty or political monarchy that will be very difficult to unseat or defeat even at the ballot box.
As this very tumultuous campaign season is nearing an end, many find themselves caught between a rock and a hard place in regards to who they should vote for because both candidates have a lot of garbage and suspicion attached to some of their previous practices and statements. Each of us would be wise to allow people the right to vote for the candidate of their choice without branding them as a traitor or Uncle Tom simply because of their political or conservative beliefs and right to choose. I know of some African -American families and even couples who are divided on their choice for President. Let us disagree without becoming disagreeable. After all, when this election is over, we all must accept and pray for whoever the winner is, whether it is Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump.
That person will be our Commander-in-Chief, our forty-fifth President, who will inherit an almost impossible task.
