(This article has been updated to fix a typo.)

WASHINGTON ‒ During his first and perhaps only presidential debate, Republican Donald Trump reaffirmed his provocative suggestion that his opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris, had recently “turned Black.”

“All I can say is I read where she was not Black that she put out,” Trump remarked to the moderators during the Philadelphia debate this month. “Then I read she was Black, and that’s alright.”

Harris appeared taken aback momentarily, but quickly countered by portraying Trump’s entire career as one that “has tried to use race to divide.”

Experts and activists believe this tactic is indeed what Trump is doing, especially with just seven weeks left until Election Day.

These analysts point to Trump’s recent remarks, such as questioning Harris’s racial identity, spreading false claims about immigrants consuming American pets, and suggesting that migrants are taking “Black jobs.” They argue that this demonstrates an intentional effort by Trump and his associates to incite division between racial and ethnic groups.

“They’re looking for wedges between groups and within groups,” stated Maurice Mitchell, national director of the Working Families Party, a progressive organization known for supporting diverse candidates.

While racially charged rhetoric isn’t new in U.S. politics, experts note that its application has evolved this election cycle.

It seems that the concerns surrounding jobs, resources, and crime have shifted from being targeted solely at white voters in rural or suburban areas to being aimed at a wider and more diverse audience.

For instance, the Republican campaign is attempting to leverage historical disputes regarding who can claim lineage tied to chattel slavery in the U.S.

“For Trump, even a small argument is better than none,” Mitchell commented.

Trump’s campaign representatives have expressed that they are indifferent regarding how Harris identifies racially. However, they also label the Vice President as a “racial opportunist” claiming she appeals to Black voters when it suits her to divert attention from what they see as the Biden administration’s shortcomings.

Kwame Kilpatrick, the former Mayor of Detroit who is backing Trump in this election, remarked that the issues regarding the increase of migrants are “at the feet” of Harris. He mentioned that debates have been occurring in African American community spaces about the strain that immigrants place on already limited resources.

“This is not about African Americans in professional settings, but rather those in the community—ordinary families, business owners who expect fair compensation for honest work,” Kilpatrick shared with YSL News. “This is an issue that can create division.”

Harris under scrutiny as Trump’s remarks target Black nativist sentiments

Recent polls indicate that the 2024 election is predicted to be extremely close, and supporters of Harris are aware that Trump doesn’t need to secure the entire Black vote; instead, he only needs to reduce the margins that President Joe Biden achieved in 2020.

Bakari Sellers, a Democrat, CNN political analyst, and long-time friend of Harris, disclosed that current polling shows the Vice President capturing over 80% of the Black vote.

However, for her to win the presidency, she needs to aim for closer to 90%, he emphasized.

Trump is looking to attract a segment of Black voters in urban areas who resonate with the Republican perspective on border security, according to Sellers.

“It’s a basic form of nativism within the Black community that exists in about one-tenth of the conversations in your local barbershop,” Sellers noted. “She’ll have to exert extra effort, and we all need to work diligently to maximize those percentages.”

There’s potential for Trump to gain support as some Black voters feel overlooked by the Democrats for extended periods, highlighted Janiyah Thomas, who serves as the Black media director for the Trump campaign.

“The challenge isn’t fundamentally about Black people feeling opposed to immigrants,” Thomas stated. “It revolves around Democrats disregarding Black individuals while allocating considerable resources to undocumented migrants.”

Kilpatrick emphasized a California proposal that was ultimately rejected by Governor Gavin Newsom, which would have allowed certain undocumented immigrants access to state-backed home loans of up to $150,000. In Chicago, the city has invested over $460 million to assist qualifying migrants, who can receive funds amounting to six Months of financial support for housing and transportation.

Such headlines frustrate Black voters in urban areas most affected by economic challenges, who struggle to secure employment or affordable housing, he noted.

“This pattern keeps repeating, and the community is understandably upset,” Kilpatrick mentioned.

Officials from Trump’s campaign have seized on these stories, investing heavily in advertising geared toward urban radio stations. They assert that Black voters in major cities across the nation are recognizing the aid being provided to migrant communities and are growing increasingly dissatisfied with the Democrats, and by extension, Harris.

Mitchell indicated that a recent survey from the Working Families Party reveals there exists a “small fraction of the working class who are particularly susceptible to these kinds of messages.”

The survey, shared with YSL News, posed the question of whether most immigrants strengthen America “through hard work, taxes, and various contributions.” A net total of 53% of respondents agreed with this sentiment, including 65% of higher-income and 58% of middle-income individuals.

Among voters in the working class, only a net of 49% agreed, providing Trump an opportunity to capture some votes.

Nevertheless, the survey also indicated that working-class voters support providing undocumented immigrants a pathway to citizenship at a higher rate than the general population.

Defining Harris: ‘Racial opportunist’ vs. ‘Black pedigree’

At the heart of the matter, experts and activists argue that Trump’s unfounded claims that Harris “turned Black” later in life aim to diminish her authenticity.

“This is likely a notion she has encountered throughout her life,” noted Bishop Dwayne Royster, executive director of the Faith in Action Network, which is the largest progressive faith-based organization in the country.

Royster indicated that such accusations seek to undermine her connection with the Black community and question her understanding of their concerns regarding issues like immigration by pointing out the differences in Harris’ background from their own.

Her lineage includes an Indian mother and a Jamaican father. She studied at Howard University, a historically Black college, where she also joined the oldest sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha.

“She undoubtedly has a Black pedigree through Howard and her membership in AKA, but the reality is that many of us have diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds,” he stated.

Thomas, Trump’s Black media director, argued that the Republican candidate wants to highlight Harris’s record rather than her racial identity. However, Thomas, who is also Black, criticized Harris as a “racial opportunist” and a “desperate code-switcher,” accusing her of using “pandering accents” for different audiences.

Thomas further critiqued Harris’ background, claiming Jamaicans do not identify with the legacy of American chattel slavery, “which explains why Black Americans did not resonate with her during her unsuccessful Democrat primary campaign, and why we remain disconnected from her now.”

(Although people of African descent were brought to Jamaica as enslaved individuals, the British Empire abolished slavery there in the early 19th century, significantly earlier than in the United States.)

These pointed criticisms reflect how Trump and his supporters are trying to exploit a divide among certain vocal Black activists, particularly those involved in the reparations movement, who believe their connection to slavery in America warrants a unique political agenda, distinct from that of Black leaders and communities with different backgrounds.

Supporters of Harris in Congress intend to draw attention to the parallels between Trump’s recent remarks regarding Black communities and his derogatory comments about immigrants that date back to his initial presidential campaign in 2015.

Trump and some of his backers have questioned Harris’s competence to serve as president, suggesting that her ascension to office as a former district attorney, California attorney general, and U.S. senator is solely due to her race.

Rep. Steven Horsford, D-Nevada, who leads the Congressional Black Caucus, firmly rejected that claim last week while addressing journalists at the group’s legislative conference in Washington, D.C.

“I believe many people, especially Black Americans, are aware of the racial rhetoric used by the previous president,” Horsford stated.

“More than just his rhetoric, it’s the actual policies and actions that have adversely affected Black Americans,” he remarked about Trump. “It’s crucial we ensure that every voter comprehends the clear choice ahead and the contrasting visions for America’s future.”

Some racist stereotypes reflect historical injustices

The use of racist stereotypes in American politics is not a recent issue, with roots tracing back to when individuals of color were labeled as “savages.”

Jason Williams, who teaches Justice Studies at Montclair State University in New Jersey, pointed out that the stereotype of immigrants mistreating pets has historically been linked to people with darker skin, particularly those from Africa, the Caribbean, and Asia.

“It made it convenient for them to blame others. It’s a tactic to dehumanize these groups,” Williams explained.

This trend can be traced back to the Reconstruction era following slavery and persisted through the Jim Crow period, which lasted from the late 1800s to the mid-1960s, particularly in the southern U.S.

More recent instances include a 1988 advertisement by George H.W. Bush, then the Republican presidential nominee, who was also vice president at that time. The ad targeted Massachusetts Governor Michael Dukakis and featured Willie Horton, a Black man who committed a violent crime while on a temporary release from prison. Critics argued that it exploited racial tensions and fears.

Elsie Scott, who leads the Ronald W. Walters Leadership and Public Policy Center at Howard University, noted that after Barack Obama ran for president as the first African American candidate, racist rhetoric reemerged strongly.

At that time, Trump, previously known for his real estate ventures and television presence, cast doubt on Obama’s citizenship without evidence.

“The nation hasn’t evolved; we’ve actually regressed in recent years,” Scott stated. “Incidents have escalated since Kamala Harris joined the ticket, but even earlier when she assumed the vice presidency.”

Republicans often counter such allegations, arguing that their comments focus more on criticizing Democrats for inaction on immigration and failed economic policies.

“This is the reason the mainstream media lacks credibility. You constantly misinterpret President Trump’s words to create divisions among Americans,” Karoline Leavitt, the national press secretary for Trump’s campaign, stated in an email to YSL News.

“President Trump aims to restore safety, prosperity, and strength for all Americans.”

Trump has reacted strongly against accusations of racism, defending himself previously by claiming, “I am the least racist person you’ve ever interviewed,” in 2018 after receiving backlash for remarks he made about Haiti, El Salvador, and several African nations.

However, some who watched last week’s debate felt differently. Rep. Troy Carter, D-Louisiana, co-chair of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation conference, labeled Trump’s comments as racist, irresponsible, and desperate.

“This is part of a longstanding effort to silence minority voices, suggesting we have nothing valuable to contribute,” Carter explained to YSL News.

During a conference panel on Haiti, Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, a Democrat from Florida, expressed that Trump’s remarks were both offensive and irresponsible. She emphasized that Haitians strive for success in the U.S. and contribute positively to society.

“We are committed to serving this nation and working diligently,” insisted Cherfilus-McCormick, who led the panel discussion. “Unfortunately, there are divisive individuals perpetuating negativity in the media.”

While Trump’s tactics may resonate with some voters, Sellers, a friend of Harris, believes they won’t be sufficient for him to reclaim the presidency. He noted that the vice president effectively countered Trump’s remarks in front of the 60 million viewers of the debate.

“She essentially conveyed that the nation deserves better than him,” Sellers remarked. “We will not allow Donald Trump to exploit racism for political gain.”

Follow Deborah Berry on X (formerly Twitter), @dberrygannett and Phillip M. Bailey, @phillipmbailey