By Felicia J. Persaud
News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Tuesday. November 5, 2024: With the November 5 general election today, many Caribbean American voters are hoping that US Vice President Kamala Devi Harris will secure a historic victory over former President Donald Trump and be sworn in as the country’s 47th president in January 2025.
For many, Harris’ ties to the region through her Jamaican father, economist Dr. Donald Harris, add a personal touch to her candidacy. More pressing, however, is anxiety among Caribbean expatriates about the implications of a Trump return. Harris has given minimal recognition to her Jamaican heritage since becoming vice president and the Democratic nominee, but naturalized Caribbean American voters — who make up a sizable portion of the foreign-born black electorate — are empowered by the prospect of choosing a the American president with Caribbean roots. At the age of 60, Harris would not only be the first female president, but also the first black woman, the second black leader and the first US president of Caribbean descent.
With over 4 million Caribbean immigrants in the US, especially in states like New York, Florida, New Jersey and Georgia, according to the 2020 Census, many Caribbean American voters are rallying behind Harris, even though her campaign has run minimal outreach to Black. and Caribbean media.
Antiguan-born political consultant, Dr. Issac Newton is among those confident of a Harris victory, noting that the political landscape is fueled by “dual resentment” — strong opposition within some Republican circles to Trump’s extreme behavior and a factional resistance to a female president. colored. “These raw, powerful forces are hard to measure, but they can decisively affect the outcome if the party’s fundamentals remain strong,” Newton said, adding, “My intuition suggests that, because of these dynamics, the actual margin of victory may be wider than the current polls show and give Kamala the win.”
Jamaican-born Clement Humes, an American voter and host of Groovin Radio in New York, shares this optimism. “I’m very confident that Kamala will win,” Humes said. “I think Americans are looking beyond race and know that Mr. Trump is dangerous for America, with his words that he wants to be a dictator and has generals like Hitler. As long as we exercise our right to vote, Kamala can win.”
Gregory Smith, a Jamaican immigrant and Obama campaign veteran, also sees Harris emerging victorious. “She’s going to win like Obama did in ’08,” Smith said, adding that he already voted for her.
Another hopeful voice is Guyanese immigrant and American veteran Annan Boodram, who now runs The Caribbean Voice, a non-profit organization that focuses on mental health advocacy. Confident about Harris’ chances, Boodram believes her support is stronger than polls suggest. “I believe Kamala will win because of the differences not only in personality but in their approach to campaigning; and because of Trump’s campaign to demonize, demean and label,” he noted.
Dominica-born Helena Joseph, a senior marketing executive and host of Defining YOU, believes Harris’ support base is wider than many expect. “I am confident that Harris will win by a larger margin than expected because there is more support for him than capturing the polls,” she said. “I predict that this under-reported support will surprise many, and I am excited to see her make history, embodying the strength and values that I and so many Caribbean Americans hold dear.”
Trinidad & Tobago-born National and American voter Coral Sherman says she voted early for Kamala Harris, “driven by a desire to protect democracy” and because she feels “that after 46 presidencies, dominated by 45 white men , it’s time for a change in the US”
“I don’t want this to be the last election I run,” Sherman said. “Donald Trump has already had his chance and I believe he failed miserably. When someone applies for a job, they need strong references, but Trump has none. Many of those who once worked closely with him, including former Vice President Pence, have distanced themselves. My concerns with Trump go back to 2017, when, after the Charlottesville incident, he described some of the KKK as ‘good people’. I want a president who leads with compassion. Trump’s policies, like his goal to abolish the Department of Education, put our freedoms at risk, and his Project 2025 would further erode them.
With polls showing a roughly 50/50 split, American Caribbean voters remain hopeful that Harris will gain the upper hand to make history.
Trinidad & Tobago-born photojournalist Hakim Mutlaq asks voters to assess the integrity of candidates as they would a personal relationship.
“If your partner lies every day and continues even after being pointed out – how long will this relationship last?” he asked. “In my world, they would be out of my life quickly.”
EDITOR’S NOTE: Felicia J. Persaud is the publisher of NewsAmericasNow.com, a daily news paper focused on positive news about the Black Caribbean and Latin American immigrant communities.
