May 7th 2024.
There has been a noticeable shift in the attitudes of Black men in Georgia towards President Joe Biden and his potential reelection bid in November 2024. In the 2020 election, their vote played a crucial role in securing the win for Biden, with a difference of less than 12,000 votes. However, recent polls have shown a decline in support for the president among the Black community, with only 76% stating they would vote for him again.
One of the reasons for this decline in enthusiasm can be attributed to a desire for change and a move away from the rematch between Biden and former president Donald Trump. James Butler, a 42-year-old Atlanta-based voter, summed up the general sentiment by saying, "I guess he's the best we've got," indicating a lack of excitement this time around. Even younger voters, like Georgia State University student Phillip Dunwood, share a similar sentiment, stating, "My vote is the same, but I'm less enthusiastic. It's more like, 'Let's just get it over with.'"
This lack of enthusiasm is also reflected in the concerns raised by the Black Voter advocacy group, New Georgia Project, regarding the support of younger Black men for President Biden. Their research has shown that a significant portion of this demographic is considering voting for Trump, and about 30% were undecided at the time of their poll. The group's researcher, Ranada Robinson, believes that online misinformation and false narratives have played a role in pushing Black men's interest away from Biden. She stated, "There are some narratives online that give credit to the wrong people for the progress we've seen in America. There's also a tendency to place blame on the current administration for decisions made by past administrations that continue to have long-term impact."
The Biden-Harris campaign has taken note of this issue and is actively working towards changing this narrative. Vice President Kamala Harris recently started a multistate tour, beginning in Atlanta, to highlight the investments and opportunities for wealth creation for minorities under the Biden administration. Campaign spokesperson Michael Tyler stated that they plan to continue talking about the administration's record and the work being done to advance economic opportunities for young Black men across the country.
Meanwhile, the GOP and conservative-led groups are working tirelessly to sway Black men to support the Republican side. They have been relying on groups like the Georgia Black Republican Council to establish a connection with the Black community. One of the methods they are using is mentorship, as mentioned by member Darryl Wilson, who stated, "We've organized Black conservative summits and 'barbershop-political forums' to bring government officials directly to the local communities, where people can ask direct questions and get direct answers."
Another group, the Black Conservative Federation, has launched a vote policy plan titled "Black Men Matter" with the aim to target Black men in six battleground states, including Georgia. Their plan includes outreach and programming to engage and persuade Black men to vote for the Republican party. However, some Black men, like Alexander Hoskin, have no plans to switch their vote from one side to the other. He recently told Forbes that he intends to vote for Biden in November, citing the president's efforts in addressing mental health and prescription drug costs. Hoskin, who has diabetes, has personally benefited from a policy implemented by the Biden administration that has lowered the cost of prescription drugs for those with diabetes.
But even with his support for Biden, Hoskin believes that the president needs to do more if he is reelected. He stated, "Instead of constantly telling us what you're going to do, President Biden should tell us what you are trying to do." Fellow Democratic voter Brandon Jones shares a similar view, stating, "We don't live in a dictatorship, so a president can't just say, 'I'm going to do something without Congress.'" Both Hoskin and Jones want to see more concrete actions from the administration in the future.
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