While half the country reveled in the afterglow of President-Elect Donald Trump’s win in the waning hours of Nov 4th, most of the rest of the country was shellshocked and despondent when they awoke the next day. Perhaps no one more so than the over 90 percent of Black women who voted for Vice President Kamala Harris to be the next president of the United States.
The 2024 election delivered a visceral shock to the American political landscape. Despite months of polls showing a tight race, his victory revealed deeper fractures in the electorate, particularly among voters of color. For Black women, who have long been the backbone of the Democratic Party and key drivers of progressive political change the results have been disheartening. Faced with Trump’s win and a noticeable lack of support among large numbers of white women voters, many Black women, like myself, are now openly questioning the value of their steadfast political advocacy.
All of this has led to a critical inflection point. The rising call of Black women to step back from their traditional roles in political organizing and advocacy is not falling on deaf ears. It could become a groundswell that could have profound implications for future elections and the broader landscape of American politics.
The Role of Black Women in 2024: What Went Wrong?
Historically, Black women have been the most loyal demographic group for the Democratic Party, consistently voting in high numbers and often swinging critical races in favor of Democratic candidates. In 2020, Black women were pivotal in electing Joe Biden and securing Democratic victories in swing states like Georgia, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania. Their turnout was credited with flipping the Senate and delivering key House seats. However, the political environment in 2024 presented a starkly different outcome that caught the Democratic Party off guard, even if the signs of choppy waters ahead were already there for all to see.
Pre-election polls showed a growing disillusionment among Black women voters. While the majority still leaned Democratic, an increasing number expressed concerns about the lack of tangible progress on issues like economic inequality, healthcare access, and voting rights. And if that wasn’t enough, the Democratic Party’s failure to effectively address issues like inflation, rising crime rates (violent crime across the country has declined, but property crime has been on the rise post-COVID), and systemic racial inequities left many Black women feeling that their needs had been overlooked.
This obvious dissatisfaction was compounded by a surprising trend: a small but mighty shift of Black voters, including Black women, toward Trump. In the lead-up to the election, an Ipsos poll found that about 10 percent of Black women indicated they would consider voting for Trump, a notable increase from 4 percent in 2020. It’s a shift largely attributed to economic concerns and a belief that the Democratic Party had not delivered its promises. It is also worth noting that many Black voters are concerned about illegal immigration, another important issue, especially those who live in under-invested neighborhoods in sanctuary cities and have seen valuable resources get directed to recently arrived migrants, and not toward the neighborhoods that have long needed attention and investment.
Despite these issues, most Black women remained loyal to the Democratic Party, turning out to vote in substantial numbers. Yet, the outcome of the election trained a bright light on a harsh reality: their efforts were not enough to counterbalance the significant support Trump received from white voters, particularly white women. The exit polls that set off a firestorm online revealed that nearly 60 percent of white women voted for Trump, a sharp increase from the 2020 election.
The Betrayal of the “Sisterhood”: Lack of Support from White Women Voters
For many Black women, the 2024 election underscored a painful truth about political solidarity– or lack thereof, even in the face of the potential of fundamental damage being done to the democratic process. The gap between the political priorities of Black women and those of white women has widened over the past several election cycles, after coming into sharp relief after the 2016 election (Remember the pink knit hats?). In 2020, there was hope that the racial justice protests and the growing movement for intersectional feminism might signal a shift in political alignment between Black women voters and their white counterparts.
But the 2024 election results slashed a gaping hole in those hopes for solidarity. The strong support for Trump among white women voters revealed deep-seated racial and cultural divides that transcend any kind of gender-based solidarity. Black women, who had been vocal and active in political advocacy, particularly around issues like reproductive rights, voting rights, and criminal justice reform, found themselves feeling betrayed by what they perceived as a lack of reciprocal support from white women.
It’s safe to say that Black women are not having any of it– this sense of betrayal has ignited a growing conversation among Black women about the value of their political advocacy, and even their precious time in general. If their consistent efforts to mobilize, educate, and turn out the vote are not met with solidarity from their supposed allies, then what is the point of continuing to shoulder the burden of political change?
The Rising Call to “Reclaim My Time” and Withdraw from Political Advocacy
That sound you are not hearing is the sound of Black women stepping away from politics and leaning back into themselves. In the aftermath of the election, there is a rising call among some Black women to retreat from political advocacy altogether and focus on themselves and their communities.
Social media has become a galvanizing platform for this movement, with hashtags like #NotMyFight and #RestForTheResilient gaining traction. Search these tags, and you’ll see a wide variety of ways that Black women have decided to reclaim their time. From learning new hobbies, finally starting that new business they’ve been thinking about, to going to grad school, Black women are retreating. Black women are tired and frustrated with a political system that repeatedly relies on Black women to save the day, but fails to deliver on their needs and priorities.
Prominent voices, such as MSNBC host Joy Reid, and many others, have expressed disillusionment with the relentless cycle of advocacy and organizing. Many are questioning whether their efforts are genuinely valued or if they are merely being exploited for their labor and political influence. The calls to step back are not about apathy but about reclaiming time and energy for self-care, community building, personal growth, and other forms of activism that may not be tied to the national political system.
What Does This Mean for Future Elections?
While this current disengagement could be temporary for some Black female voters as the shock wears off and the effects of a second Trump presidency come into full view, it would be a mistake not to understand that many Black women are dead serious about putting the brakes on their political advocacy and organizing efforts. The implications for future elections could be more profound than people realize. Here’s how:
Decline in Voter Turnout: Black women have historically been key drivers of voter turnout, and not just among their own demographic, but across entire communities. A reduction in Black women voters’ engagement could lead to lower overall voter turnout, particularly in key swing states where every vote counts.
Shifts in Party Strategies: The Democratic Party has long relied on the support of Black women, often taking their votes for granted while prioritizing outreach to swing voters in other demographics. If Black women withdraw from the political sphere, Democrats may be forced to rethink their strategies and actively work to earn back their support through concrete policy changes and more inclusive platforms.
Rising Influence of Alternative Forms of Advocacy: Even if Black women pull back from traditional political advocacy, they are unlikely to remain silent in the process. Instead, there could be a rise in alternative forms of activism, the benefits of which directly affect their communities, such as mutual aid networks, grassroots community projects, and direct action campaigns focused on local issues. What could happen, as a result, is a reimagining of political engagement that does not rely on traditional electoral politics.
Increased GOP Outreach: The GOP, recognizing the cracks in the Democratic coalition, may attempt to capitalize on the discontent among Black women by doubling down on outreach efforts. So what would that look like, especially coming from a party that has not welcomed minorities, especially Black women, into their ranks? It could involve addressing economic issues, promoting conservative family values (Democrats have not always appreciated how conservative some Black voters are), and appealing to disillusioned voters with promises of change. But, the GOP would not be able to outrun their past stances on issues like voting rights and systemic racism, and those past views would remain significant barriers to gaining widespread support from disengaged Black women voters.
The Future of Black Women’s Political Engagement
As the dust settles from the 2024 election, the future of Black women’s political involvement hangs in the balance. The calls to step back from a lifetime of political advocacy reflect a deep frustration with the current political landscape and are amplifying demands for a new approach that genuinely values their contributions.
But for the Democratic Party, this is a blaring wake-up call that reverberates in all corners of the coalition. The reliance on Black women as the “saviors” of the party is not sustainable if it continues to be a one-way street. The party will need to prioritize policies that directly address the needs of Black women, from economic equity and healthcare access to criminal justice reform and voting rights protections. Our study, Voices of Resilience: The State of Black Women, found that 18% of respondents consider racial discrimination to be the biggest obstacle to economic success for Black women– meaning that the Democratic party still has a way to go to deliver on promises made to their most loyal supporters.
In the aftermath of the 2024 election, Black women stand at a crossroads. Their decision to step back from or re-engage with the political system could redefine the future of political organizing in the U.S. The question now is whether the political parties, and the nation as a whole, will recognize this moment as an opportunity to listen, learn, and act– or risk losing the most loyal and impactful advocates for justice and equity in American politics.
