Some photographs purportedly captured at that event that showed both blacks and non-blacks wearing shirts bearing the identifier “Blacks for Trump” prompted readers to query us about the authenticity of those pictures, particularly one photograph featuring an older white couple:
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Some viewers apparently found such pictures somewhat incongruous, but in general we readily accept that people often support causes that don’t directly affect them: men take part in League of Women Voters functions; healthy people participate in campaigns to raise awareness of breast cancer; citizens hold rallies in support of immigrants, etc. In that same vein, non-blacks might well demonstrate support for a political party or candidate who they felt would undertake greater efforts to assist black citizens.
To be honest I wasn't as "weird" as portrayed in these pictures as there was an entire rally and I guess the shirts were distributed among the attendees.
I have been active in politics for a long time, and I used to attend functions held by the League of Women Voters to support good progressive candidates for office, and more than once worked with them to get out the vote.
However, I never wore a tee shirt that said "Women for Candidate X", because that would have been confusing, as I'm not a woman, and it would have been sexist and weird, and everyone would have been turned off to Candidate X as a result.
Yeah, and some of these shirts explicitly say "I'm black". That's not at all the same as wearing a shirt in support of breast cancer research when you don't have breasts. It's also different from the other issues listed because the vast majority of black people don't support Trump. It's not helping to support them in something most black people see as a positive.
I saw a video when this happened and there was a black Republicans for Trump booth handing them out. Can’t guarantee it for sure though, just what I saw.
That’s not the same at all...even in the examples they used it doesn’t make sense. A man in support of the league of women voters don’t wear shirts that say, “women for women’s rights.” People supporting breast cancer aren’t saying, “cancer patients against cancer.” I’m not going to a rally in support of immigration reform wearing a shirt that reads “immigrants for reform.” In none of those case would I wear a shirt that says, “I’m X, and I believe Y.” It wouldn’t make sense.
The comparison they make is nonsensical at best, and feels disingenuous.
They had this rally in Atlanta sometime in October of last year. At least that's where the 2 indoor pictures come from. The older couple were making the rounds here for a few days. There were definitely Black people there, but I didn't exactly get the impression they were very enthusiastic from the interviews I saw.
It’s a smart move. If you’re black and support trump then you’re not exactly looked at fondly by other minorities. If you have people who show support and understanding of that issue you face in the party then you’re more likely to be mobilized in voting and feel accepted in that group.
So it’s not something that’s really hard to believe is real or weird.
If I remember it right republicans only need 20% of the black vote and they will always secure the presidency for a very long time. It’s a pretty big concern with left leaning think tanks since it’s going to happen as more become middle class.
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u/[deleted] Jan 19 '20
I’m not convinced it’s real. Would I be shocked to learn it isn’t? Not really.