Trump's New Deal for Black American Youth
An October 2016 speech delivered by then Presidential candidate Donald Trump outlined a New Deal for Black America promising safe communities, great education and high paying jobs. He spoke to dire statistics characterizing black American youth as part of the high poverty rate and equally high unemployment rate.
The policies, nominees and early actions of, now, President Trump and his administration are diametrically opposed to any of his rhetoric regarding benefit or lifetime improvement for black American youth.
A push to change Medicaid from entitlement to block grant would adversely affect the estimated 51% of black children whose healthcare depends on it.
Safety is threatened by weakening the Justice Department which prevented police departments from using excessive force and employing racial bias.
Promises for quality public education for black youth look to be broken. With a nominee who holds zero experience and understanding of the federal loan and Pell Grant system, pathways to college attainment are threatened.
Prosperity is being championed, but not with stances against strengthening the minimum wage and weakening overtime pay rules; employment at the entry level simply won't pay.
The current state of Trump’s policies suggest black American youth will be ignored in his presidency.
By Tiffany O'Neal
Special Assistant of the Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies
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