By TRIBUNE STAFF REPORT
The Philadelphia Tribune
https://www.phillytrib.com/
A large majority of Blacks want Democrats to prioritize defending against attacks on DEI as part of the resistance to President Donald Trump, according to a new survey.
The findings from the 2040 Strategy Group show 67% of Black Americans would like to see the party have a stronger voice on the matter of diversity, equity and inclusion, while 18% of Black respondents approve of the current strategy to fight Trump’s policy agenda.
About 64% said the agenda is hostile to Americans who aren’t white.
The poll also showed that 1 in 4 Black voters are skeptical that Democrats will effectively connect with the Black community in the coming era. The analysis is based on a poll of 979 Black respondents, and was collected between February 5 and 7.
“The implication, therefore, is that as Democrats formulate their opposition strategy, the party should devote energy to launching a coordinated fight to protect DEI programs and civil rights,” the group said. “After the party lost 2 million Black voters last election cycle, this provides a path for Democrats to re-earning the trust of a vital voting bloc, giving them a chance for victory in 2026, 2028, and beyond.”
The 2040 Strategy Group was founded by former colleagues and research collaborators at Northwestern University. The group grew out of the merger of Analytic Insights Consulting, which Alvin B. Tillery, Jr. its CEO, founded in 2013, Collab Research, which Thomas Ogorzalek founded in 2018, and Tabitha Bonilla consulting.
“Trump’s executive order ending “wasteful” DEI programs in the federal government puts a target on the backs of Black employees, who make up 18% of the federal workforce,” the group said. “Many Black Americans who once found access to the middle class through federal employment or even college now find that the door has been shut.”
More important insights from the survey reveal 2 in 3 Black Americans say defending DEI will be important to determining if the Democrats can win future voters. It also showed that even self-identified Trump supporters are evenly split, 41% agree versus 41% disagree, on whether the president’s agenda is hostile to Americans that aren’t white.
“Democrats are starting to mount small fights, but the party will need to hit DEI messages even harder to keep Black voters on their side – and win back the 2 million of them who stayed home in 2024,” the group said.
The poll also revealed there was no honeymoon phase for Trump with Black voters in that only 25% of Black voters approve of Trump as compared to 47% of the electorate at large. A large plurality, 41%, strongly disapproves.
A suggested path forward
The group said it’s crucial for the Democratic Party to begin using credible messengers to identify specific harms in the Trump-Republican agenda targeting Black life, including making racist attacks on DEI a centerpiece of their messaging strategy. This represents an opportunity, the group said, to reconnect with the base by clarifying the contrast between the two parties.
“Black Americans are overwhelmingly unsupportive of Trump’s actions in his first three weeks in office,” the group said. “However, they remain skeptical of Democrats’ ability to oppose Trump and deliver broadly.
“The future of the Democratic Party hinges on how it pushes back on Trump on civil rights and DEI,” the group added. “By investing in stabilizing their coalition in key constituencies, including young people and Black Americans, through sophisticated, competent messaging and position-taking they can turn around the trends of the 2024 election cycle.”
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