POLITICS
Why Some Believe “Surviving Gunfire” is an Appeal to Black Voters
They endorse stereotypes about Black people rather than reality
During an election year, some would rather walk across a bed of hot coals than highlight the priorities of Black voters. Just consider the story published by Shaun Harper in Forbes yesterday following the attempted assassination of former president Donald Trump, entitled, “Will Surviving Gunfire Be Donald Trump’s Next Appeal to Black Voters?” This headline was offensive on many levels. For one, it presumes “surviving gunfire” is a uniquely Black experience when it’s not.
Despite Black people being disproportionately represented among gun-shot victims, gun violence is an inherently American problem. After all, the leading cause of death for children in this country is gun violence, far outpacing any illness. Secondly, the headline suggests that a White person “surviving gunfire” makes them more relatable in the black community, irrespective of their anti-black policies. Since the backlash, Forbes’ editors quietly removed the article from their online platform. Nevertheless, this isn’t the first time during this election cycle that Black voters have been accosted in this way.
