Jeremy, 34, Georgia, microbiologist
I see very progressive groupthink mind-sets, a very heavy emphasis on emotion, like on race relations or climate change. A lot of the time, it’s overcorrection — an acknowledgment of things that happened in the past and an unhealthy fixation with using that as a weapon, in terms of pushing through governmental policies.
Dylan, 31, Arizona, program manager
I’m 31. I wrote my senior thesis paper on reparations, so I definitely saw myself as liberal-thinking. But then I learned more and more that that’s just kind of an identity more than it is really an ideal kind of mind-set.
Khaled, 50, Pennsylvania, school principal
This current election cycle — it’s surprising how far we’ve gone.
Moderator, Patrick Healy
What do you mean?
Khaled, 50, Pennsylvania, school principal
Just when you think that it can’t get any crazier, it’s just like, wow, I didn’t think they did that in America. I’ll give you a perfect example: the recent presidential debate. The thing that blows my mind is that people were actually surprised and are now sounding the alarms as if the news wasn’t talking about this for the last couple of years, about how bad and how off track the president is mentally.
Moderator, Patrick Healy
Which presidents do you think have done the most for Black Americans?
Marlon, 47, Georgia, florist
Within my lifetime, I guess Obama — not only for the fact that he’s the first minority president, but it just seemed like his whole campaign was “Things are going to change.” He did make certain progress, especially amongst minorities.
J.D., 50, Arizona, coach
I would have to circle back to Kennedy, to be honest.
Samuel, 28, Arizona, data analyst
Obama.
Branden, 46, Nevada, retail merchandiser
I would have to say Trump. He had the lowest unemployment numbers for Black Americans in a long time, so just by that figure alone, I would say Trump.
Aamir, 30, Pennsylvania, security
Obama brought a lot of trust from the community back into the office of the presidency.
Jeremy, 34, Georgia, microbiologist
President Lincoln.
Khaled, 50, Pennsylvania, school principal
Trump, with what he did with the H.B.C.U.s, as far as making sure that there was money, as far as what he did with the ex-offenders.
Rashad, 40, Pennsylvania, graphic designer
In my lifetime, it would have to be Trump. H.B.C.U. financing, the things that people went through after Covid. I had Obama for a good chunk of my adult life. It was good for theatrics and getting people into politics, but what actually happened?
Dylan, 31, Arizona, program manager
I’m going out on a limb. I would say Biden. I have some nephews, and Biden really has helped them to wake up from the illusion that Obama kind of created. We got to do a lot for ourselves.
Theodore, 36, Georgia, construction
In my lifetime, I’m going to say Trump, but before my lifetime, I have to say Roosevelt. Honestly, I think it’s a collaboration with him and Eleanor. I think my generation tries to look at Trump as, like, this racist guy or whatever. I don’t think Trump really cares about your race as to what you stand for and how you act, pretty much. It’s not the fact that you’re Black, you’re white, yellow or purple. It’s like, OK, when you step into public, how are you going to conduct yourself?
Moderator, Patrick Healy
What do you think Democrats understand the least about Black Americans and specifically Black men in America?
Jeremy, 34, Georgia, microbiologist
The assumption that every Black male youth is an automatic victim due to either systemic racism or factors outside of their control.
Rashad, 40, Pennsylvania, graphic designer
I think they have underestimated how much Black men care about their family. We don’t want excuses as much as they think we want excuses. We want people to get out and work and do certain things. The value of the Black man in the household, when it comes to what our value is and how much we think we’re needed, I think that’s undervalued.
Khaled, 50, Pennsylvania, school principal
I think they’re confused. I think they went so far to try to do so many different things, and now there’s more of an independent thought with Black men in this country.
Aamir, 30, Pennsylvania, security
I don’t think it’s Black or white. It’s just job security, the economy, going to the grocery store and getting a bang for your buck. But there are issues that do strike the community more, like police brutality.
J.D., 50, Arizona, coach
It’s the pandering to the Black race, thinking that we are looking for a handout and feeling sorry for us, when we’re capable and culpable. And I feel like the pandering of “all you broken-down people, you need us, and here we are; we’re going to help you” — it’s not a respectful tone or manner. It’s insulting, actually.
Moderator, Patrick Healy
What do you think that the Republicans understand least about Black Americans and particularly Black men in America today?
www.nytimes.com
@ some of the responses.
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