Decoding Trump’s Claim: A Detailed Review of His Collaborations with the Black Community

Body: In recent political discourse, former President Donald Trump has asserted that he has ‘long worked hand in hand’ with Black people. To thoroughly analyze this claim, it is essential to unpack Trump’s interaction and influential decisions regarding the Black community, during his time in both the business sector and his presidential term. During his tenure as a New York-based real estate developer, Trump’s interactions with the Black community were often mired in controversy. Notably, Trump Management Corporation faced a federal lawsuit in the 1970s for allegedly discriminating against Black tenants. The government accused Trump and his father of violating the Fair Housing Act by not renting their apartments to African American applicants. The lawsuit ended with a settlement without admitting wrongdoing, but it left a skeptical public view about Trump’s interactions with the Black community. In the late 1980s, Trump famously took out full-page ads in four New York newspapers calling for the return of the death penalty following the arrest of five Black and Latino teenagers falsely accused of attacking a White jogger in Central Park. These young men, now known as the Central Park Five, were later exonerated, but Trump refused to apologize for his actions, sparking further criticism regarding his stance towards the Black community. Turning to his presidency, Trump frequently touted his administration’s work on criminal justice reform, most notably the First Step Act that aimed to reduce mandatory minimum sentences for certain non-violent crimes and assist former prisoners with reintegration into society. Critically, this legislation had significant importance for the Black community, as systemic issues within the justice system have disproportionately impacted the community. In terms of economic policies, Trump consistently highlighted the pre-pandemic low unemployment rate for African Americans, which reached a record low in 2019. While the rate did reach a low point under his administration, it should be noted that this decline in Black unemployment started under President Obama’s administration and simply continued the trend. Within the realm of education, Trump showed support for historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and made federal funding for these institutions permanent. He was praised for signing the Future Act into law, which allocated more than $250 million a year to HBCUs, simplifying the process for applying for federal financial aid. Despite these actions, Trump’s administration was often criticized for its response to racial tensions and controversies. The handling of the Charlottesville Unite the Right rally, where he asserted there were very fine people “on both sides” and his critiques of NFL players