“Black Vote, Black Energy,” a collaboration between Keith Boykin and Phrase In Black, examines the problems and what’s at stake for Black America.
I’ve watched a number of of the affirmation hearings for Trump’s cupboard nominees, however the listening to for “the Black job” was the Blackest but — and maybe additionally probably the most revealing concerning the subsequent 4 years.
Scott Turner, the one Black individual Trump has nominated for his cupboard, is sort of sure to be confirmed for “the Black job.”
You realize the job.
It’s the identical job that Ben Carson, Alphonso Jackson, and Samuel Pierce had. It’s the one job that Republicans love to provide to a Black individual: Secretary of Housing and City Growth.
Turner’s listening to on Thursday was well mannered and non-confrontational, particularly in comparison with the hostility from Legal professional Common nominee Pam Bondi and the incompetence of Protection Secretary nominee Pete Hegseth.
Turner is in over his head.
Based mostly solely on his decorum on the listening to, Turner really appears to be a pleasant man, and similar to Herschel Walker, Trump’s decide for the non-cabinet place to be ambassador to the Bahamas, Turner is a former skilled soccer participant.
But it surely’s clear to me that Turner is in over his head — not a lot by way of potential however in his lack of resilience to face up to the strain from his Republican colleagues, his reluctance to advocate for truthful and inexpensive housing, and his powerlessness to face as much as his bosses within the Trump administration.
The Senate Banking Committee that can vote on his affirmation consists of 4 Black members: the Republican chair, Tim Scott, who famously professed his love for Trump and obsequiously rubber stamps his agenda with a toothy smile, and three Democrats who tried repeatedly and did not get Turner to decide to preventing for housing wants.
Delaware Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester requested Turner if he helps necessary work necessities that may kick many susceptible folks off of Part 8. It took thrice earlier than he lastly admitted that he helps these restrictions.
Maryland Senator Angela Alsobrooks requested if he would oppose cuts to HUD applications for inexpensive housing for low-income households. “What I’ll decide to these applications and to maximise the price range,” Turner responded. That didn’t reply the query, so Alsobrooks requested once more, and Turner solely pledged that he “will work with the president” and Congress inside “the price range that we do have.”
Alsobrooks then requested about Elon Musk’s proposal to put off 75% of HUD staff, and Turner meekly responded: “What I do help is encouraging folks to do the job that they’ve been known as to do.” However what precisely does that imply? That doesn’t reply the query.
Georgia Senator Raphael Warnock requested about Trump’s proposed cuts to HUD’s price range, and Turner would solely repeat his rehearsed speaking factors that he would “maximize that price range.”
You’re the nominee and it is advisable ‘change into extra well-studied’?
And when requested if he would crack down on racial discrimination in house appraisal bias, which Kamala Harris proposed to deal with throughout her presidential marketing campaign, Turner replied, “We’ll proceed to look into that, and I look ahead to working with you on that and change into extra well-studied.”
You’re the nominee for Secretary of Housing and City Growth, and it is advisable “change into extra well-studied” on racial discrimination in house value determinations? That’s not signal.
We’ve seen this film earlier than, people. A part of the explanation we’ve got a housing disaster at present is due to selections made a long time in the past when Ronald Reagan appointed a pleasant, quiet Black Republican HUD Secretary as the general public face to preside over large cuts in funding that may disproportionately damage Black folks.
When Congress handed the Housing Act of 1968, it dedicated the nation to the aim of manufacturing 2.6 million items of housing a yr, together with 600,000 yearly for low-income households. However when Reagan got here into workplace, he slashed funding for housing applications and lower the proposed variety of items for brand new building to solely 10,000. Reagan’s insurance policies created a spiraling disaster of homelessness and inexpensive housing that also persists 4 a long time later.
Many of the media consideration within the coming days will give attention to Trump’s crew of controversial, combative, and clearly unqualified white cupboard nominees, however we also needs to take note of what Trump may name “the Black job.”
Scott Turner’s affirmation listening to proves that Trump won’t solely comply with but additionally broaden on the Republican playbook of utilizing a Black face to implement a decidedly anti-Black agenda.
Keith Boykin is a New York Instances–bestselling writer, TV and movie producer, and former CNN political commentator. A graduate of Dartmouth School and Harvard Legislation Faculty, Keith served within the White Home, cofounded the Nationwide Black Justice Coalition, cohosted the BET discuss present My Two Cents, and taught on the Institute for Analysis in African-American Research at Columbia College in New York. He’s a Lambda Literary Award-winning writer and editor of seven books. He lives in Los Angeles.
