As the United States prepares for the inauguration of Donald Trump as the 47th President on January 20, 2025, the political landscape reflects significant shifts, particularly concerning the Democratic Party’s relationship with working-class voters. Fareed Zakaria, a prominent political analyst, has identified key missteps by the Democrats that have contributed to these changes.
Zakaria argues that the Democratic Party’s handling of immigration policy has been a major factor in their declining support among key demographics. He points out that the asylum system, originally designed to assist a limited number of persecuted individuals, has been overwhelmed as millions use it as a pathway into the country. Rather than addressing these systemic challenges, Democrats have often dismissed critics of the policy as xenophobic, ignoring significant shifts in public sentiment.
Another issue Zakaria highlights is the overzealous legal pursuit of Donald Trump. While some cases against Trump may have been valid, the sheer number of lawsuits and their rapid succession created the perception that the legal system was being weaponized for political purposes. This dynamic, Zakaria contends, transformed Trump’s image from that of a divisive figure into a victim of political targeting, which ultimately bolstered his support among voters.
Finally, Zakaria critiques the Democrats’ heavy reliance on identity politics, which he believes has alienated large segments of the electorate. By framing individuals primarily through racial, gender, or ethnic lenses, the party has struggled to connect with working-class voters, including many Latinos who have gravitated toward Trump’s socially conservative and pragmatic positions. This focus, Zakaria asserts, has overshadowed the party’s ability to address broader economic and social issues that resonate with mainstream voters.
Zakaria’s analysis suggests that these missteps have weakened the Democratic Party’s appeal to critical voting blocs. As Trump takes office, Democrats face the urgent task of recalibrating their strategies to rebuild connections with working-class Americans and regain their footing in an increasingly divided political landscape.
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How long will you continue to speak on all sides of the critical issues confronting Black people today before realizing you no longer have any coherent, principled ground to stand on?
Today’s piece is just the latest example. Here, you casually regurgitate Fareed Zakaria’s critique of the Democratic Party for embracing identity politics. Yet, just last night on People Before Politics, I heard you urging Black people to rally behind a program for reparations.
Are you serious? Don’t you realize that there’s no greater example of identity politics than reparations for Black Americans?
How can a thoughtful, well-informed publisher of a Black magazine take the Democratic Party to task for embracing “identity politics” while simultaneously urging Black people to support reparations?
These goals cannot be pursued simultaneously for one simple reason: winning the fight for reparations will require persuading the federal government to allocate massive amounts of taxpayer dollars. And the only party even remotely willing to put its money where its mouth is on programs for Black Americans is the one that doesn’t rely on the votes of white conservatives from the former Confederate states. Today, that party is the Democratic Party.
Let’s not forget it was Representative Jamaal Bowman—not Representative Byron Donalds or Senator Tim Scott—who championed a reparations bill. Why? Because Donalds and Scott know full well that their Republican colleagues would sooner see them swinging from a poplar tree like strange fruit than support federal restitution to Black Americans for slavery.
Going forward, please do better. Offer your readers opinion pieces that respect their intelligence and don’t insult them by assuming they have the intellectual capacity of a MAGAt.
How long will you continue to speak on all sides of the critical issues confronting Black people today before realizing you no longer have any coherent, principled ground to stand on?
Today’s piece is just the latest example. Here, you casually regurgitate Fareed Zakaria’s critique of the Democratic Party for embracing identity politics. Yet, just last night on People Before Politics, I heard you urging Black people to rally behind a program for reparations.
Are you serious? Don’t you realize that there’s no greater example of identity politics than reparations for Black Americans?
How can a thoughtful, well-informed publisher of a Black magazine take the Democratic Party to task for embracing “identity politics” while simultaneously urging Black people to support reparations?
These goals cannot be pursued simultaneously for one simple reason: winning the fight for reparations will require persuading the federal government to allocate massive amounts of taxpayer dollars. And the only party even remotely willing to put its money where its mouth is on programs for Black Americans is the one that doesn’t rely on the votes of white conservatives from the former Confederate states. Today, that party is the Democratic Party.
Let’s not forget it was Representative Jamaal Bowman—not Representative Byron Donalds or Senator Tim Scott—who championed a reparations bill. Why? Because Donalds and Scott know full well that their Republican colleagues would sooner see them swinging from a poplar tree like strange fruit than support federal restitution to Black Americans for slavery.
Going forward, please do better. Offer your readers opinion pieces that respect their intelligence and don’t insult them by assuming they have the intellectual capacity of a MAGAt.
Brother Bob, I value your perspective, but I must take this opportunity to clarify my position on Fareed Zakaria’s critique regarding the Democratic Party’s failure to secure the election. Reparations are not some unattainable dream—they are both achievable and morally justified. However, our inability to wield our collective power effectively has been our greatest stumbling block. Time and time again, Black Americans have placed unwavering loyalty to the Democratic Party above the advancement of our own community’s interests, and this approach has consistently hindered our progress.
Let’s take a moment to reflect on the Jewish American community. Though they represent only 2% of the U.S. population, they have successfully prioritized their community’s interests above blind allegiance to any political party. This strategy has allowed them to influence policy and secure their objectives across the political spectrum. In contrast, we, as Black Americans, make up 14% of the population, yet we have failed to adopt a similar approach. The potential for transformative change exists if only we could recognize and strategically leverage our significant political capital.
Consider Jamaal Bowman’s situation as a glaring example. When Democrats turned on him, the silence from many in our community was deafening. I remember it vividly—I stood on the front lines, openly criticizing Latimer. Where were you? I stood alongside the Arab community in defense of Jamaal Bowman, but where were you? Far too often, we continue to support candidates who offer us little more than vague, non-committal promises, such as “studying” the need for reparations. This pattern reflects a deeper problem: a mindset that undervalues our collective self-worth and ignores the undeniable historical evidence justifying reparations.
Brother, you insist on the importance of a “big tent,” but we cannot effectively collaborate with others until we first establish our own power and unity. We must focus on building a solid foundation that positions us as equals—not as mere manpower and votes to be exploited in exchange for empty promises. This same shortcoming, the refusal to listen and prioritize our community’s needs, is precisely why the Democrats lost. And, just like you, my brother, they remain trapped in their liberal white echo chambers. Before we can work with anyone else, we must find unity among ourselves. We cannot be so quick to dismiss or judge another perspective simply because it challenges the status quo.
The harsh truth is that we often act as our own worst enemies. By seeking validation and superficial financial gestures from liberal white politicians, we undermine our ability to demand genuine accountability and respect. It is time for us to shift our priorities. We must recognize the immense value of our votes and our collective influence, using them strategically to secure real gains for our community. Only through unity and purpose can we achieve the progress we so urgently need. The future of our community depends on it.
Brother Damon,
It seems the only contribution the Black community can expect from you these days is hearing you jawbone while spreading misinformation from the comfort of your home office in a predominantly white community hours away—a place with 85% fewer Black residents than the communities in Westchester you abandoned years ago.
While you were busy undermining Congressman Bowman’s election prospects by erroneously telling your readers that the Biden administration had no program for the economic uplift of Black people, I was pouring hundreds of hours into real work. During the summer of 2023, I spearheaded the formation of a Black-led coalition that submitted a $50 million grant proposal. The grant aimed to secure a portion of the nearly $7 billion Bowman helped the Biden administration earmark for bringing energy-efficient systems to Black communities nationwide. Let me repeat: this was historic legislation designed to directly benefit our people—a bill that Republicans would never support.
The funding could have been even larger had it not been for the relentless opposition of Faux News and the Banana Republican Party, who fought tooth and nail to reduce the size of the program precisely because Black people were among its primary beneficiaries.
As part of that effort, I helped host two town halls where dozens of people gathered to hear Jamaal and his team discuss this transformative initiative. And you? Despite all your bluster about strengthening Black businesses and revitalizing Black neighborhoods, you didn’t contribute a single second to this effort. So, where were you?
On July 30th, I attended the Town Hall for Black Men in Yonkers that Congressman Bowman organized. The event was designed to bolster his campaign, highlight the pro-Black programs he helped to craft, and encourage Black men to engage with his platform. And you? Where were you?
Throughout Bowman’s re-election bid, I worked tirelessly—phone banking, attending rallies, helping with commercials in Tibbetts Brook, and still found time to document pro-Palestinian rallies here in Yonkers that you wrote about from the comfort of your home. And you? You were tucked away up in crackersville, preaching about the importance of supporting the Black community while refusing to roll up your sleeves and actually do something.
So again, I ask, Damon—where were you?