On Jan. 16, President-elect Donald Trump attempted to ease the divide between himself and prominent black leaders. Foregoing his trip to the Smithsonian Museum of African-American History and Culture, he met with Martin Luther King III, the eldest son of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Trump planned the meeting after facing mass criticism after verbally attacking Georgia Rep. John Lewis. Lewis is known for his significant support of the late Dr. King.
After the two met in Trump Tower, reporters recorded Trump and King shaking hands, but Trump answered no questions regarding the meeting’s content. The only information provided was from Mr. King, who claimed the meeting was ‘constructive,’ and that Trump is prioritizing an inclusive image.
“He said that he is going to represent Americans — he’s said over and over again,” said King. “We will continue to evaluate that.”
King, who is following in his father’s footsteps as a civil rights activist, is pushing for free photo ID cards for U.S. citizens who don’t have driver’s licenses. He says this will make it easier for voters, many of whom are black, to cast ballots. King says Trump is interested in pursuing this course.
“It is very clear that the system is not working at its maximum,” King reported. “We believe we provided a solution.”
Despite Trump’s meeting with King, he still faces much criticism about his intentions. Leaders claim Trump’s relationship with black citizens is borderline toxic. They said his fear-laden campaign and lack of addressing their concerns of his presidency are to blame. The leaders say this tension cannot subdue until the President-elect changes his tone and policies.
Marci Morial, president of the National Urban League, explained the distrust between black citizens and Trump’s political stances.
“There’s a lot of anxiety,” he said. “There’s a lot of distrust, there are people who expressed to me that they’re scared of what his policies might entail.”
Although Trump won 8 percent of black votes in the election, Pew Research Center found that approximately three-quarters of the black community fear race relations will only get worse during his term.
