The Democratic Party manipulated the African American vote by spreading fear

"They wanted to make sure to say: “Oh, we’re going to point out racism. We’re going to make you feel guilty so you vote for us.” They weren’t going to talk about the positive things they were doing. They were going to talk about what the other side was doing negatively, to appeal to fear and use that fear factor to get you to choose their path instead of the other one. But this time, it didn’t work.

And to be honest with you, even though I may not like some of the things I’m seeing from the Trump administration so far, the truth is I’m glad it didn’t work. Because I believe that, for a long time, African Americans have played the fool for the Democratic Party. They’ve made us feel guilty to get our votes, making us feel like we’re going to be marginalized, creating division within our own communities or whatever, just to secure our vote.

Instead of saying: “Hey, this is what we’ll do for you, and it will work better than what they’re offering.”

The Democratic Party of the United States has been repeatedly accused of using fear-based tactics to mobilize voters, especially within minority communities such as African Americans. These strategies often focus on warnings about the negative consequences of a potential Republican government, appealing to emotions like fear of racism, loss of civil rights, or setbacks in social policies. Instead of promoting concrete and positive proposals, they frequently resort to highlighting the supposed dangers of “the other side,” generating guilt or anxiety among voters to secure their support. This dynamic has been criticized for creating division and emotionally manipulating the electorate rather than offering clear and transparent solutions.

A concrete historical example occurred during the 2020 U.S. presidential election. The Democratic Party and allied media repeatedly warned that a re-election of Donald Trump would lead to increased systemic racism, suppression of civil rights, and even the “collapse of democracy.” Campaigns like “Vote as if your life depends on it” were specifically aimed at African American and Latino voters, promoting the idea that not voting for Democrats would put their safety and fundamental rights at risk.

Instead of focusing on concrete legislative achievements or positive policy proposals, they emphasized the dangers of Trumpism: the border wall, racial tensions, or the handling of the pandemic. This led to a mobilization driven more by rejection and fear than by enthusiasm for a constructive agenda—an approach that has been strongly criticized even within the Democratic electorate itself.