At this time just before the presidential election, there is a hue and cry to get out the black vote. The reasons stated are: (1) failure to vote would denigrate the sacrifices of those who attained that right; (2) a strong vote is an expression of black political clout; and (3) the black vote is essential for the election of Hillary Clinton.
The possibility of having Donald Trump in the White House is extremely unpleasant, but the problem is not completely resolved with his defeat at the polls. Trump has already claimed that the election is rigged and he refuses to confirm that he will abide by the results. Since Trump also asserts that he does not accept defeat, the nation can anticipate a major political response to resurrect Trump’s delusion of self-importance.
When one considers that Trump prepped for his run for the presidency by becoming head of the “birther” movement, his defeat on Nov. 8 likely will impel him in a direction that is damaging to blacks and other minorities. His base of support largely comprises Americans without a college education who are suffering from a continuing decline in employment in the manufacturing sector. Trump has led them to believe that those jobs can return with government intervention.
In 1994 there were about 17 million jobs in manufacturing. By 2016 that number had declined to about 12.5 million. And many of those becoming jobless are white men. The nation has much to be concerned about the post-Nov. 8 political machinations of a man who has already refused to renounce support from the Ku Klux Klan.
