BLACK NORTH CAROLINIANS
DENOUNCE TRUMP’S “BLACK
JOB” DEBATE SLUR
By Cash Michaels
Contributing writer
In the aftermath of the June 27th controversial first presidential debate between Pres. Joe Biden and former President Donald J. Trump, much has been made of Trump’s litany of falsehoods, and numerous attempts during the course of the ninety-minute event to scare voters into not reelecting Pres. Biden.
One of those attempts was what Trump said about immigration and Black people:
“The fact is that [Biden’s] big kill on the Black people is the millions of people that he’s allowed to come in through the border,” Trump bellowed. “They’re taking Black jobs now — and it could be 18, it could be 19 and even 20 million people. They’re taking Black jobs, and they’re taking Hispanic jobs, and you haven’t seen it yet, but you’re gonna see something that’s going to be the worst in our history.”
What did the Republican former president and current convicted felon mean by “…millions of” presumably illegal immigrants “…allowed to come in through the border…taking Black jobs now?
Buzzfeed reported that “During a post-debate interview, [Republican] Sen. Marco Rubio was asked to clarify, and he said Black jobs are "jobs that are filled by African Americans in America" that'll be supposedly impacted by "workers [who] are willing to do it at a lower wage..."
Dr. Ben Carson, one of a handful of Black Republican supporters of Donald Trump, was apparently embarrassed by the remark. The famous retired neurosurgeon, former presidential candidate, and HUD secretary under Trump told CNN that what former president said, “…probably could have been phrased in a better way.”
Nationally, Derrick Johnson, president/CEO of the NAACP, dismissed Trump’s meaning behind his term “Black job,” stating categorically that “There’s no such thing….”
“That misinformed characterization is a denial of the ubiquity of Black talent,” Johnson continued. “We are doctors, lawyers, schoolteachers, police officers and firefighters. The list goes on.” Johnson added, “The divisive nature of this comment is not surprising for Donald Trump.”
South Carolina Democrat Rep. James Clyburn told CNN that Trump’s “Black jobs” remark was an indicator of “the low opinion of Black people” he’s demonstrated all of his life.
And former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms got X (formerly known as Twitter) to rhetorically ask, “I have a law degree. Does that get me a #blackjob?”
Here in North Carolina, two African-American state lawmakers and a legal expert were also critical of what they felt presumptive republican presidential nominee meant.
“According to Trump, "Black jobs" are low-paying, menial jobs to which he attributes little dignity or worth,”NC House District Rep. Renee Price (District 50 - Caswell, Orange) said in a statement . “Indeed, a racist white power structure decided to establish an American caste system based on race and ethnicity, forcing the darker and darkest skinned people to labor in the most arduous and unpleasant situations.”
“That said,” Rep. Price, a professional consultant, continued, “… the jobs historically relegated to and held by Black/African Americans are the foundation of our society. I personally hold housekeepers, porters, caregivers, chauffeurs, maintenance engineers (janitors), ditch diggers, sanitation workers, bricklayers and the like in high esteem...and they deserve our utmost respect.”
Durham Democrat Rep. Zack Hawkins (District 31) made it clear that what Trump said was anything but complimentary to Black people.
“Former President Trump gives yet another example of how he feels about and views black citizens of this nation, Rep. Hawkins said in a statement. “Equating jobs held by black people as low wage, low impact and at the bottom of the economic ladder. If he thought this to be true, it’s even worse that he offered no plan to better situate a community that’s given so much to this nation.”
“Based on his current views and first term,” Hawkins continued, “…it’s a glimpse into what he will offer to the black community in a second term as President of the United States. Absolutely nothing.”
North Carolina Central University Law Professor Irving Joyner, agreed.
“From Trump’s perspective and that of his followers, a “Black Job” is the one that self-respecting Whites do not wish to perform and engage in and these tasks are left to those people of color who are in this country and destined to serve, entertain, sustain and please white society.”
“For African Americans, Prof. Joyner continued, “…a Black job is any position, role or profession that is available within society for people to capture, control and command. There are no limits on what we can do, have done and will continue to do in this world. Among the jobs that African Americans and people of color presently have is to educate, inspire and organize our people to ensure that Trump’s intended political and economic hustles will not succeed.”
On social media, many African-Americans also chided Trump for his derisive remark. One Facebook poster wrote, “Our #blackjob is voting.”
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NC NAACP CALLS TWO
PROPOSED CONSTITUTIONAL
AMENDMENTS “STUNTS”
By Cash Michaels
Contributing writer
Calling two new proposed constitutional amendments “litigation stunts,” the NC NAACP, Forward Justice and the Southern Environmental Law Center are blasting Republican legislative leaders for unveiling them in an alleged effort to bolster two previous constitutional amendments already in litigation.
According to a release from the progressive legal group, “Forward Justice,” Earlier this month a three-judge panel held a status conference in the N.C. NAACP's case challenging two constitutional amendments initiated by an illegally racially gerrymandered legislature. The panel ordered the attorneys to propose a plan for next steps, including discovery, by the end of this week.”
The release continued, “ A couple of days after this status conference, the legislature introduced two new constitutional amendments related to the two already being challenged by N.C. NAACP in court: One about photo Voter ID – that would modify the constitution to say that voters voting by mail are required to show ID, and another on the State income tax cap - lowering it to 5%. Over the long term, these amendments would enshrine regressive policies into our constitution that would make it harder for marginalized groups to vote and starve our state of funds for things we all need like public schools and environmental protection.”
Forward Justice alleges that “It seems far from coincidental that legislative leaders have chosen to advance two amendments so close in aspect to the amendments that are the subject of their lawsuit just as discovery is about to begin.”
NC NAACP Pres. Deborah Dicks Maxwell sad, “"In 2017, a federal court found that North Carolina legislators were targeting Black voters 'with surgical precision'; and nearly a decade later we continue to see some of these same legislators deploying new tactics in their ongoing assault on voting rights– all while trying to conceal their bad actions from the public.
“While these relentless attacks are infuriating, they underscore the power of the people- and the fear that these legislative leaders have of that power. Of our power. We will not back down,” Ms. Maxwell continued. “We will not allow these elected officials to roll back the freedoms that people sacrificed their very lives to gain. We will continue to pursue every legal challenge to these discriminatory laws and encourage every eligible voter to make their voices heard at the polls this November."
According to Forward Justice, “This case began in 2018, when the N.C. NAACP challenged two constitutional amendment ballot questions – one imposing a photo ID requirement to vote and one lowering the state income tax cap – on the grounds that the North Carolina legislature was only able to achieve the constitutionally required supermajority by relying on the racial gerrymander. In 2017, the districts were deemed not only unconstitutional, but also one of the largest racial gerrymanders ever encountered by a federal court. However, before remedial elections took place, the legislators rushed to use their unconstitutional power to place amendments on the ballot to change the state’s constitution. Without the illegal racial gerrymandering, the legislature could not have met the constitutionally-required threshold to propose any of these constitutional amendments.”
Forward Justice continued, “In 2019, a Wake County Superior Court judge ruled for the NC NAACP and declared the amendments void. That ruling was overturned in a two to one decision of the N.C. Court of Appeals, which brought the matter to the Supreme Court. In 2022, the NC Supreme Court ruled in favor of N.C. NAACP that racially gerrymandered legislatures do not have unlimited authority to change North Carolina’s constitution, and sent this case back to the trial court for additional fact-finding.”
“Under that ruling the Tax Cap Amendment and the Photo Voter ID Amendment are currently void. On August 2, 2023, the trial court transferred this matter to a three-judge panel; and a panel of judges was assigned to this case on December 1, 2023. The Supreme Court remanded the case to the trial court for further factual findings and to assess whether the two constitutional amendments in question are the types of amendments the racially gerrymandered legislature lacked the power to place on the ballot.”
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