By Felicia J. Persaud
News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Weds. November 6, 2024: Caribbean immigrant voters who began Tuesday hoping for a victory for US Vice President and Democratic nominee Kamala Harris are now facing shock, fear and disbelief at the return to power of convicted felon and former president Donald Trump. .
The shock is compounded by the realization that Trump’s victory was powered not only by an overwhelmingly white voting base, but also by unexpected support from black, Latino and Asian voters. Trump secured 292 electoral votes, up 12 percent of the black vote, 45 percent of the Latino vote and 39 percent of the Asian vote, according to exit polls. Additionally, 55 percent of voters who identified as “other” races reportedly cast ballots for him — a result that surprised many analysts.
This diverse support came despite the historic candidacy of Harris, a black and South Asian woman with Jamaican roots, on the Democratic ticket.
Born in Antigua, American citizen and political thought leader Dr. Isaac Newton had predicted a Harris victory when News Americas spoke to him last week. Still shaken by the result, Newton said: “This election result is not primarily about Trump as an individual, but about what he stands for. His speeches, personality and defiance — even his dramatic rejection of the 2020 election results — resonate with millions. In Trump, many see a reflection of their bold, unapologetic and fiercely individualistic identity. It is not simply tolerated; it is embraced because it aligns with an American essence. Trump thrives in America because he is not a foreigner; it embodies the values, identity, and spirit that take root in American soil. His victory is not just about who he is; it’s about what many Americans see in themselves.”
Jamaican-born Irwine Clare, OD, head of Caribbean Immigrant Services and Team Jamaica Bickle, was also hoping for a Harris win. Today, he noted that the election results show how the US has “normalized racism and misogyny”, warning that Trump supporters, including black, Latino and Asian voters, should be prepared for the practical consequences.
He warned that the election has consequences and that Trump supporters, including black, Latino and Asian and immigrant voters, must now be “prepared for what this means practically.”
British-born Jamaican journalist Barrington Salmon, who had predicted a Harris victory, expressed disappointment. “America died on November 5th,” Salmon said. “Killed by racial hatred and grievance, misplaced anger and fear that whites will become a minority. The idea that a criminal who orchestrated a coup, got away with secret documents, and engaged in behavior that would disqualify any other person is now poised to become the 47th president of the United States of America. This was America at its most racist and misogynistic. Harris’s sex, race, and immigrant roots doomed her effort because America has a deep hatred of women and the mainstream has no use for black and brown people.
Salmon also highlighted a major concern: the potential implementation of Project 2025, noting, “Trump says he will arrest and deport millions of undocumented and legal immigrants, eliminate the U.S. Department of Education, and cut Medicare and Social Security. I expect him to sign a national abortion ban that will prolong the suffering and deaths of women and girls,” he said.
Guyanese-American mental health advocate Annan Boodram also expressed shock, telling News Americas: “Trump’s second victory will empower more Americans to discover their true character, described by Socrates as “a lawless nature and animalistic,” said Boodram, who now runs The Caribbean Voice, a nonprofit focused on mental health advocacy. “America has changed, and Trumpism will be here long after you, me, and Trump are gone. America can no longer speak of democratic principles, morality, ethnic brotherhood or the family of humanity.”
Jamaican immigrant Clement Humes, host of Groovin’ Radio and a staunch supporter of Harris, tried to process the result. “This must be a bad dream — a convicted felon and harasser of women just got elected president, after everything he’s said about Latinos, Haitians, women, African-Americans and other groups,” Humes said. “Many American voters saw all this and voted for a madman. Mass deportation, changes to birthright citizenship, and denaturalization – all this is nothing to his supporters, and the racism is clear here, setting America back about 200 years. This is sad, to say the least.”
Trinidad and Tobago-born Koral Sherman, an American voter, shared a similar concern. “Donald Trump won by activating a cult of voters who chose his racism, misogyny and xenophobia over democracy,” she said. “He also received overwhelming support from the church because of his stance on abortion, even though his actions are far from godly. It was also unfortunate that the Muslim population did not vote for Harris because she did not take a strong stand for a ceasefire in the Middle East, but they are in for a rude awakening with Trump at the helm.”
Throughout his campaign, Trump maintained a history of inflammatory rhetoric, referring to immigrants as “animals” and “vermin” and suggesting they were “poisoning the blood” of America. He made unsubstantiated claims that Haitian refugees in Ohio were eating pets. At a rally in Madison Square Garden, compared by some to historic nationalist rallies, a comedian mocked Puerto Ricans, Latinos, black Americans, Jews and Palestinians. Another speaker called for a “return to real Americans,” fueling further controversy.
Trump’s rhetoric resonates with close allies like former adviser Stephen Miller, who declared: “America is for Americans and Americans alone.” Former Fox News host Tucker Carlson mocked Harris’ background and intelligence, calling her a “Malaysian Samoan” with a “low IQ” — a claim unabated by Trump. Businessman Grant Cardone directed sexist and racist comments at Harris, falsely accusing her of associating with “pimp handlers”.
In contrast, the Biden administration achieved economic gains for black Americans. Black unemployment, home ownership and labor force participation rates improved, while inflation-adjusted wages rose. The uninsured rate among black Americans hit an all-time low.
Despite these advances, a segment of black evangelical voters and congregations supported Trump, seeing him as the preferred candidate. This shift underscores the complexity of voter loyalty, even in the face of widely perceived divisive policies and rhetoric. The nation now watches whether Trump will enact Project 2025, a plan that could affect the base that helped secure his return.
