From Allyship to Fracture: Is BIPOC Solidarity a Thing of the Past?
In the wake of the election, Black Americans are questioning the validity of the umbrella term BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color).
Breaking Down the Exit Poll Data
The exit poll data for the 2024 election is sobering:
As the data demonstrates, Black communities overwhelmingly voted for Harris. Asian and Hispanic/Latino communities proved to be much more split but both identity groups still broke for Harris overall.
When broken down by race and gender, the following data is revealed:
Powerfully, the data shows that Black women overwhelmingly voted for Harris and Latino women heavily favored Harris in this election cycle. Moreover, we do see that though Latino men broke for Trump, 43% of Latino men still favored Harris. Further, 77% of Black men cast their ballot for Harris.
This data demonstrates to me that Black Americans still have political allies, but our collective organizing may need to become more targeted and specific.
A Legitimate Sentiment of Political and Social Isolation
As a Black Queer Woman specifically, the exit poll data leaves me with sadness, frustration, anger and deep curiosity.
I, like many Black women, feel politically abandoned. Trump’s election symbolizes a nation that has chosen to invisibilize and erase Black women’s lives and well-being.
Further, I believe Trump’s election represents a troubling cultural shift towards toxic nationalism that is situated in an ideology of American supremacy. Trump’s election does not just leave Black women vulnerable to systemic harm, it also brings along with it implications for war and continued genocide abroad. Perhaps most concerningly, this election reveals that more and more People of Color are bought into the idea of a post-racial America.
Yet, I am far from hopeless and I am not ready to give up on the possibility of coalition building across identity lines. I still believe that there are a large group of Americans who desire to fight for justice and systemic change.
Instead of drawing vast conclusions from the exit poll data, I am left with many questions:
How do we acknowledge and honor the unique pain and vulnerability that a Trump presidency places on Black women?
What new terminology may better address the interconnected nature of systemic inequality while also acknowledging the distinct nature of oppression that Black communities experience?
What does solidarity between Black Women and Latina Women look like in the wake of Trump’s election?
A Wake-Up Call for Workplaces
Workplaces can respond to this crisis by ensuring they have safe and inclusive policies and practices in place for vulnerable community groups. This includes:
Reproductive Healthcare Policies: Ensure comprehensive coverage and confidentiality for healthcare decisions. This is imperative for LGBTQ+ staff members.
Anti-Racial Discrimination Policies: Enforce zero tolerance for bias and offer regular anti-racism training. The Trump administration is anti-DEI, but workplaces can maintain this commitment.
Equitable Hiring Practices: Reduce bias through diverse hiring panels and fair compensation audits. Pushback against the idea that inequality no longer exits, bias is still alive and well and must be addressed rigorously.
Grieving and Healing Spaces: Provide resources for employees to process emotions and access mental health support.