Black Republicans Take Center Stage on Night One of the RNC

It’s the latest effort from the Trump campaign to appeal to Black voters using an economic message.

Rep. John James, R-MI

“I heard a little bit earlier today, if you don’t vote for Donald Trump, you ain’t Black,” Rep. John James said during the Republican National Convention. Morry Gash/AP

On the first night of the Republican National Convention — a night supposedly centered around the economic message of “Make America Wealthy Again” — Black Republicans led the conversation. It wasn’t by accident.

Republicans made a conscious decision that, as the GOP made its economic appeal on Monday, Black Republicans were its best messengers.

North Carolina gubernatorial candidate Mark Robinson and Reps. John James, Byron Donalds and Wesley Hunt — all Black men — spoke on the first night of the RNC. And their speeches marked a greater focus from the Trump campaign to reach out to Black voters, particularly Black men.