By Kiara Doyal, The Seattle Medium
Last week in the 2024 election, Americans once again rejected the chance to elect the country’s first female president by re-electing Donald Trump to office. Trump’s return to the Oval Office has ignited a wave of concern among Black Americans, especially Black women, who have long led social justice movements, from abolition to civil rights. Now, they face an administration that many view as a threat to human rights, particularly around issues of abortion, healthcare access, and social equality.
During Trump’s first term in office, America saw documented rights abuses, such as separations of families at the U.S.-Mexico border, the advancement of racist policies targeting people of color, and efforts to suppress low-income families. Many Black women feel that Trump’s rhetoric and actions have disproportionately impacted their communities, diminishing their rights and well-being.
In the wake of President Donald Trump’s re-election, many Black women feel as though they woke up the morning after election night trapped in a nightmare, facing the reality of Trump returning to the Oval Office. Many are questioning how a man convicted of 34 felonies and accused of misogyny could have been chosen over a highly qualified woman of color known for her grace, dignity, and empathy.
State Rep. Debra Entenman, a Democrat who represents the 47th Legislative District, was at a loss for words when asked about the results of the presidential election.
“I have nothing that I can add. I can’t pour from an empty cup,” Entenman said.
For Genay Doyal, a 55-year-old Black woman in Seattle, the morning after the election was a somber day as she began to question why our country would elect a misogynistic man, and the realization that racism is still very much alive in America began to set in.
“I am worried about what kind of future my 10-year-old granddaughter will have to grow up in,” said Doyal. “I am angry because Kamala was more than qualified to be our President. She accomplished a lot in only 100 days, gave us hope, joy, and made us proud. Yet, we still elected Trump, who disrespects women, who was found guilty on 34 felony counts, and continues his hateful rhetoric.”
“I am disappointed because a lot of people made the decision to sit this election out, and remember that a non-vote was the same as a vote for Trump,” she added.
Dawn Mason, an Elder of Distinction and former State Representative, is not surprised about the election results as she believes that this has been a long time coming.
“During my time in the legislature from 1995 to 1999, the House was majority Republican, and that was the beginning of where we are at now. It was a long game for the Republicans,” Mason said. “Now we have the ‘Make America Great Again’ phrase, so they have been working on this for years. The results show an evolution of the party, and they took over the Republican Party, but the Republican Party wasn’t as hateful as it is now, so I am not surprised one bit about the outcome.”
Danielle Roraback, a 25-year-old Black woman in Seattle, says that despite the social progress that has taken place over the last 10–15 years, there is still a significant amount of resentment and hate that exists in America that prevents us from making real progress towards racial healing and a country fully united under the principles of freedom, justice, and equality.
“This country does not favor people like me, nor my friends or people that I love, and I am reminded that people I work with, people I work for, and people I walk by on the street do not care about my future or the well-being of other minorities and women,” said Roraback.
As former Vice President Kamala Harris often said during her campaign, “We are not going back.” But with Trump’s return to office, many Black women feel the nation is regressing to a time when the country was in turmoil.
In addition, his re-election has further consequences with a Republican-controlled Senate. If issues like reparations, reproductive rights, and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) are put forth, advocates expect opposition. Trump’s potential to appoint several Supreme Court justices could shift the court’s balance for decades, hindering progress on these issues.
“Women will have fewer rights when making decisions about their bodies. Trump is going to roll back climate change and clean energy policies, no protections for our LGBTQ+ community or brown and Black people,” said Doyal. “Just read Project 2025, and it will tell you everything that you need to know about Trump’s mission to set us back.”
Mason also fears the long-term effects of Trump’s return to office.
“America is already great; it is a great nation. Trump isn’t looking to make America great again; he is looking to make whites great,” said Mason. “They were never great, their history is not great, what brought them privilege is not great. We [Black people] are the heroes, and this is the first time over the past few years that we have not had a charismatic, brilliant, Black voice speaking out for justice.”
“I think that those who continue to support the almost psychotic leadership of this man will have a rippling effect across the globe, and this is not going to be good for African Americans,” Mason continued.
Roraback agrees and says that she fears that Trump’s re-election will further encourage an environment where people can be openly sexist, racist, homophobic, and bigoted without consequence.
“This definitely sets America back. We have already gone back with the overturning of Roe v. Wade,” said Roraback. “During the Obama administration, there was a lot of work done to bring people together and merge the socioeconomic classes. Now, there is certainly going to be a divide more than ever with Trump back in office.”
For many, Trump’s return signals a deep-seated fear of Black women in power. Despite Harris’s qualifications and the strides she made during her campaign, her loss is seen as less a reflection of her capability and more an indictment of America’s reluctance to embrace Black female leadership.
“Even though Trump was elected, God is still in control! We still have our faith, and we must continue to hope for a better future for ALL! Like Kamala said, ‘We have more in common than what divides us,’” Doyal concluded.
“This sends a message to Black women that even with more experience, professionalism, and civility, we still have to work 10 times harder to earn the same respect as white men,” said Roraback. “I know that it is super disheartening, and I know Black women are tired of their voices and lights being dimmed, but I am hopeful that over the next 4 years, Black women will still find a way to outshine.”
Re-electing Trump sends a message to America that our country fears having Black women in power, and Mason said that even though Harris ‘lost,’ she believes that she truly did win in her eyes.
“Kamala did not lose; she won because she ran, and not getting the majority vote is not necessarily an outright loss, because she got the experience, she got the exposure, and we heard her voice during this election of what America should and can be. This country was just not going to let a Black woman beat the white man,” Mason said.
“Black women are so powerful and the most educated. America is built on the backs of our children, so no, Trump didn’t win because she is a woman; he won because she is a Black woman. This man is horrible and still fears that a Black woman would lead us to true justice for all people, and that is not the intent. Whites want to keep their privilege,” Mason continued.
Trump’s presidency was seen by many as a reinforcement of existing racism, rather than a force for positive change for marginalized communities. Despite the outcome, our Black community will continue to thrive and prevail throughout these next 4 years.
“We will make it through the next 4 years, because we made it through 400 years. Don’t lose sleep over this one; there is nothing worse that is going to happen to African Americans that has not already happened. We have not only survived, but we are thriving,” Mason concluded.
