Stephen A's Explanation About Black Support For Trump Undermines Liberal Message
Stephen A. Smith appeared on Fox News last week to speak about why a growing number of black Americans support Donald Trump. He brought up the former president's ongoing "hush money trial" in New York.
"By Donald Trump’s statement weeks ago, talking about how he’s hearing that black folks find him relatable, because what he’s going through is similar to what Black Americans have gone through. He wasn’t lying," Smith told Sean Hannity. "He was telling the truth. When you see the law enforcement, the court system, and everything else being exercised against him, it is something that Black folks, throughout this nation, can relate to."
He went on, explaining that "With some of our historic, iconic figures, we’ve seen that happen throughout society. So no matter what race, what ethnicity you may emanate from, we relate to you when you’re suffering like that, because we know we have. And that’s what he articulated."
In short, Stephen A. acknowledged that some black voters relate to what Trump has characterized as a persecution.
Yet his rather objective acknowledgment sparked outrage from the usual suspects who name-and-shame black influencers who dare to utter anything other than criticisms of Trump.
Smith's Comments Draw Outrage
Notably, Smith drew the ire of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). The official NAACP account on X tweeted the following message to Smith:
"Relatable!?! Show of hands: Anyone in your Black family have 88 felony charges pending, filed for bankruptcy 6x, made an attempt to overthrow a presidential election and our democracy, and still have the ability to fall asleep in court and dream of being POTUS?"
OutKick favorite Bishop Talbert Swan responded by supporting the NAACP and – once again – calling Smith a "coon." Buffoons like Roland Martin and Joe Walsh also denounced Stephen A. for his comments.
Smith responded to said critics by noting a few inaccuracies in their interpretation of his commentary:
Stephen A. draws an important distinction between his comments, and the way they've been portrayed by his critics.
Hannity asked Smith about a group of specific black voters who support Trump. Smith never said black voters as a whole relate to Trump.
Smith's critics failing to understand that distinction underscores the issue with the response to his analysis. The hypothesis of a "black vote" is, inherently, racist. The idea that black voters must succumb to one way of thinking as a monolithic entity suggests black people are not qualified to think for themselves.
Black people can think for themselves.
Trump's Support Among Black Grows
Smith's commentary is supported by recent polling. Support for Trump among black voters increased again this month, up 19 percentage points from four years ago, jumping to 23% from 4% in a New York Times/Sienna College poll.
It's understandable that some black voters would sympathize with Trump over his politically-motivated legal woes.
Stephen A. notes how black Americans often feel that the system is rigged against them and that the powers that be weaponize the law to harm them. Surely, Donald Trump can relate to that.
The system is rigged against Trump. The powers that be are weaponizing the law against him.
Specifically, the opposing political party (the Democrats) is trying to put its leading political opponent (Donald Trump) in prison for the rest of his life.
Ultimately, the new-found connection between Trump and black voters undermines the message that mainstream liberals and black Twitter promulgate: that Trump is at odds with the black community.
Stephen A. pointed that out. Now, he's the bad guy.
Smith is a bit Bill Maher-ish. He's not a zealot. Politically, he is unpredictable. Stephen A. Smith's voice matters, particularly in the black community.
The NAACP knows that, it fears that.
Hence, the vitriol over and mischaracterization of Smith's segment with Sean Hannity.
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