Does Donald Trump really have a 'great relationship with the blacks'?
Not for much longer, perhaps. After trumpeting his ties with "the blacks," the real estate mogul frets that African-American support for Obama is "very, very frightening"
![Whatever support Donald Trump thought he had from the black community may have been squandered after he referred to African-Americans as "the blacks."](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/PUn58ZGEevHfbve7LWg3zg-415-80.jpg)
Not content with pursuing the fringe conspiracy theory that President Obama isn't a U.S. citizen, Donald Trump has now entered the tricky world of race relations. The would-be Republican presidential candidate has boasted of his "great relationship with the blacks" on a New York radio station, before declaring that Obama's enormous support from the African-American community is "very, very frightening." Trump also hinted that Hillary Clinton's defeat in the 2008 primaries was partly motivated by race. Will Trump's choice of words turn off these black voters who supposedly love him so much? (Watch a CBS discussion about Trump's comments.)
Trump's language belongs to another era: Trump's comments were "highly offensive," says Walter Fields, former head of NAACP New Jersey, as quoted by Capital New York. Referring to "the" blacks signifies that he's "actually treating African-Americans as objects." This "level of ignorance" is evidence that Trump has a mindset "reminiscent of the Jim Crow era." It wasn't that long ago that "the objectification of blacks was paramount to maintain slavery."
"What's wrong with Donald Trump and 'the blacks'"
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
![https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516-320-80.jpg)
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
"The blacks" don't like him much anyway: Trump's birther obsession has already provoked a "heavy backlash" from the African-American community, says Hayat Mohamed at The Root. Many think he's using the issue as a proxy for race, and prominent black figures like Bill Cosby have "publicly ridiculed" the billionaire. If he ever did have a great relationship with "the blacks", it won't last much longer.
"Donald Trump: I have a great relationship with the blacks"
This will hurt his political prospects: It's still unclear whether Trump's "fake presidential campaign" amounts to political ambition, says Steve Kornacki at Salon, but it's worth noting what happened to another "rich guy turned presidential candidate" when he made a racial faux pas. In July 1992, Ross Perot offended the audience at an NAACP convention by referring to them as "you people" during his speech. A week later he dropped out of the race.
"When rich white guys talk about black people"
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Ukraine's Olympians: going for gold in the line of fire
Under the Radar Hundreds of the country's athletes have died in battle, while those who remain deal with the psychological toll of war and prospect of Russian competitors
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
'Democrats now have a chance to present a vigorous, compelling case'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
What has Kamala Harris done as vice president?
In Depth It's not uncommon for the second-in-command to struggle to prove themselves in a role largely defined by behind-the-scenes work
By Theara Coleman, The Week US Published
-
How could J.D. Vance impact the special relationship?
Today's Big Question Trump's hawkish pick for VP said UK is the first 'truly Islamist country' with a nuclear weapon
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Biden, Trump urge calm after assassination attempt
Speed Reads A 20-year-old gunman grazed Trump's ear and fatally shot a rally attendee on Saturday
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Supreme Court rejects challenge to CFPB
Speed Read The court rejected a conservative-backed challenge to the way the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is funded
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Arizona court reinstates 1864 abortion ban
Speed Read The law makes all abortions illegal in the state except to save the mother's life
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Trump, billions richer, is selling Bibles
Speed Read The former president is hawking a $60 "God Bless the USA Bible"
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
The debate about Biden's age and mental fitness
In Depth Some critics argue Biden is too old to run again. Does the argument have merit?
By Grayson Quay Published
-
How would a second Trump presidency affect Britain?
Today's Big Question Re-election of Republican frontrunner could threaten UK security, warns former head of secret service
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
'Rwanda plan is less a deterrent and more a bluff'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By The Week UK Published