After Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump launched into his pitch for black America, several outlets reported the black community taking offense, though the majority of what the media found offensive in Trump’s speeches has been explicitly highlighted in the Black Lives Matter movement.
The Black Lives Matter website featured an op-ed in Fall 2015 titled “11 Major Misconceptions About the Black Lives Matter Movement,” that sought to clear up misconceptions. The op-ed pointed to the exactly same issues Trump covered in his speech.
“But black people are disproportionately poorer, more likely to be targeted by police and arrested, and more likely to attend poor or failing schools,” the article claimed.
The latest Black Lives Matter endorsed platform devoted an entire section to “economic justice” and called for a federal jobs program to help “the most economically marginalized Black people.” The platform also stated that blacks have been denied the opportunity to a good education.
During a speech in Michigan aimed at black voters, Trump espoused many of these key talking points.
“Look at how much African-American communities have suffered under Democratic control. To those hurting, I say: what do you have to lose by trying something new? I say it again, what do you have to lose? Look, what do you have to lose? You’re living in poverty, your schools are no good, you have no jobs. 58% of your youth is unemployed. What the hell do you have to lose?” Trump said.
The New York Times ran an article with the headline “Donald Trump’s Description of Black America Is Offending Those Living In it.” The article featured statements from blacks who found Trump’s main talking points offensive.
Marc Morial, the president of the National Urban League, told the New York Times that Trump’s portrayal of the black community was “inaccurate,” saying that while black people did face challenges, the community also had a lot of success.
Alexis Scott, a former publisher of the Atlanta Daily World, said that it seemed like Trump was “giving voice to every stereotype he’s ever heard.”
Nate Cohen, a 35-year-old black man, told the New York Times that he was curious as to whether Trump might appealing to his white voters by reinforcing stereotypes about the black community. He went on to say that Trump could be passing on “racist ideas” to his audience.
Send tips to amber@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.
All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter’s byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.