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By Emily Wagster Pettus Associated Press
JACKSON, Miss. (AP) ‚Äî Medical marijuana businesses in Mississippi don’t have the right to advertise on billboards or other places because marijuana itself remains illegal under federal law, an appeals court says.
The owner of a medical marijuana dispensary argued that the First Amendment protects the right to advertise because Mississippi law permits the sale of cannabis products to people with debilitating medical conditions. The state enacted its law in 2022.
business in Mississippi.”
allows them to be listed in phone books or business directories and to display cannabis in company logos. The businesses can also sponsor not-for-profit charity or advocacy events.
Cocroft is represented by the Institute for Justice, a nonprofit libertarian law firm. The firm said Monday that it is considering its next steps in the lawsuit, including possibly asking the entire appeals court to reconsider the case or an appeal to the Supreme Court.
“Mississippi cannot on the one hand create an entire marketplace for the sale of medical marijuana, and on the other hand rely on an unenforced federal law to prohibit buyers and sellers from talking about it,” said Ari Bargil, an Institute for Justice attorney. TRI-STATE DEFENDER
A three-judge panel of 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Friday rejected the arguments about advertising. They cited the federal Controlled Substances Act, which since 1970 has prohibited the manufacture, distribution, dispensing and possession of marijuana.
The federal law applies in all states, and Mississippi “faces no constitutional obstacle to restricting commercial speech relating to unlawful transactions,” the judges wrote.
The Mississippi attorney general’s office praised the court decision for upholding “Mississippi’s reasonable restrictions on advertising for medical marijuana dispensaries by print, broadcast, and other mass communications,” said the office spokesperson, MaryAsa Lee.
Clarence Cocroft II operates Tru Source Medical Cannabis in the northern Mississippi city of Olive Branch. He sued the state in 2023 to challenge its ban on medical marijuana advertising on billboards or in print, broadcast or social media or via mass email or text messaging.
“Upholding this ban makes it incredibly difficult for me to find potential customers and to educate people about Mississippi’s medical marijuana program,” Cocroft said in a statement Monday. “I remain committed to continuing this fight so my business can be treated the same as any other legal
The state allows medical marijuana businesses to have websites or social media accounts that provide information about their retail dispensing locations and a list of products available. It
“Food insecurity is a real issue during the holidays. Providing grocery boxes is an important way we respond to the need.”
— Dr. J. Lawrence Turner
MemFeast returns for its 5th year, bringing hot meals and food boxes to fight food insecurity across Memphis from November 25-27.
Organized by Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church in collaboration with community partners, the threeday event will serve hot Thanksgiving meals at 10 locations across the city on Wednesday, November 27, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
“Food insecurity is a real issue during the holidays,” said Dr. J. Lawrence Turner, Senior Pastor of Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church. “Providing grocery boxes is an important way we respond to the need, but offering the warmth and comfort of a hot meal is just as important, and enjoyable, for the people of Memphis.”
Additionally, food boxes designed to sustain a family of four for an entire week will be distributed at the church’s Midtown Campus through Wednesday, Nov. 27. Referrals are required to receive a food box.
Toni Holman-Turner, Senior Manager of Communications for the City of Memphis, pointed out how, for many kids, missing school means missing a meal.
“What people may not always realize is that for many children, their primary meals come from school,” she said.
“By creating food boxes that can feed a family of four for an entire week, this initiative shows what Memphians can do when we come together. This is the true spirit of Memphis.”
Brian Harris, Director of Youth Services for the City of Memphis and a member of Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church, emphasized the collaborative nature of the event.
“This is not just about the church,” he said. “This is about the community feeding the insecure with hot meals on Wednesday and boxes for Thanksgiving
Day and beyond.”
City and county elected officials agreed.
“During this season, we often focus on thanking God for our blessings, but we don’t think enough about those who are going without,” said City Council Chair JB Smiley Jr. “MemFeast is a powerful example of putting people at the forefront of our decisions. It’s about serving those in need, and I’m grateful to be part of this collaboration.”
“MemFeast highlights the goodwill and unity that Memphis is capable of,”
said Shelby County Commissioner Mickell Lowery. “Seeing the number of food boxes being distributed reminds us all of the importance of giving back to our community.”
Hot meals will be available at the following locations on Wednesday, November 27, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.:
1. Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church, 70 N. Bellevue Blvd
2. Martin Memorial Temple CME Church, 65 S. Parkway W
3. R.S. Lewis & Sons Funeral Home, 3851 Austin Peay Hwy
4. Dave Wells Community Center, 915 Chelsea Ave
5. Memphis Office of Youth Services, 315 S. Hollywood St
6. The Healing Center, 3885 Tchulahoma Rd
7. Limit Breaker Church, 6270 E. Raines Rd
8. Mt. Pisgah CME Church, 2490 Park Ave
9. Greenlaw Community Center, 190 Mill Ave
10. Faith Heritage Church, 3802 Gragg Ave
For more information on MemFeast, including how to volunteer or refer someone in need, contact Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church at 901729-6222.
In a modest warehouse on Jackson Avenue, before the first rays of sunlight illuminate the streets of Memphis, Ruth Rawlings-Banks—affectionately known as “The General” by her army of volunteers—rallies her troops.
It’s the week of Thanksgiving, and Feed the Needy, the organization Rawlings-Banks has led for 30 years, is preparing to distribute over 300,000 pounds of food to families across three states.
The efficiency and professionalism volunteers bring to the effort are only outmatched by the volume, Rawlings-Banks said. More than 400 volunteers have already contributed to the effort, sorting and packing boxes — and that’s before the giveaway actually even happens.
“I got a whole ‘nother army coming at 3 a.m.,” she said. “The place will be jumping.”
This year marks a milestone for Feed the Needy, but for Rawlings-Banks and its dedicated supporters, including volunteers from Valero Memphis Refinery, the mission remains deeply personal.
“I’ve seen it all—good, bad, and ugly,” she said. “What keeps me going is knowing the impact we’ve had. We’re not just delivering food; we’re delivering hope. And when you hear those cries for help, you can’t turn away.”
Rawlings-Banks recalled a particularly poignant story about a woman she spoke with recently. The woman had just buried her six-year-old granddaughter, a St. Jude patient, and was still grieving the loss of her 20-year-old son to cancer.
“She told me her phone was down to 5 percent, and I said, ‘Hang up and save your battery. I’ll call you tomorrow,’”
Rawlings-Banks recounted. “When I did, she said everything I told her was echoed by her pastor at her granddaughter’s funeral. That’s what we’re here for— to listen, to care, and to act.”
For Lisa Jenkins, a long-time volunteer and Valero Memphis Refinery employee, that personal touch is what makes Feed the Needy unique.
“It’s not just about handing out food. This program lifts people’s spirits and reminds them that someone cares,” Jenkins said. “It’s one of Valero’s most popular volunteer efforts because it’s so meaningful. Everyone—whether you’re packing boxes or delivering them— walks away feeling like they’ve made a difference.”
Each food box contains a mix of perishable and non-perishable items— dubbed the “hot box” and “cold box.”
Together, the 70-pound packages are designed to supplement meals for a family well beyond Thanksgiving.
“We know it’s not enough for every meal, but it helps families stretch their resources between holidays,” Jenkins said. This approach is critical in Memphis, where rising food costs force many families to make impossible choices.
“People are having to choose between medicine and meals,” Rawlings-Banks said. “It’s not just the unemployed—it’s working-class families who are struggling to make ends meet. We’re here to bridge that gap.”
A volunteer effort like no other
Volunteers are the lifeblood of Feed the Needy. From corporate sponsors like Valero to local manufacturers such
as Richardson Oil Seed and Hershey’s, more than 400 volunteers work in shifts to pack and distribute the food boxes.
“Once you volunteer with Feed the Needy, you come back year after year,” Jenkins said. “There’s something special about the camaraderie. Everyone— from line workers to executives—is equal in the effort to help our neighbors. Ruth sets the tone, and we all follow her lead.”
The organization’s roots in manufacturing inspire a sense of precision and purpose. “Ruth runs this like a company—every step is intentional,” Jenkins said. “And that’s why it works so well. It’s like a train moving into the city, and everyone is a critical part of keeping it on track.”
Rise, grind . . . and give
Indeed, that “train” started moving at 3 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 26 and kept building momentum throughout the morning at MSCS’ Bayer warehouse facility on Jackson Ave.
By 5 a.m., when The Tri-State Defender arrived, the warehouse space was bustling with at least 60-70 volunteers, mostly from the Memphis Police Department. One of those officers was Tan Taylor, participating in the giveaway for the first time.
“I was recruited to help out, and very excited to give back to the community
in a very thoughtful and fulfilling way,” she said. “There’s no better way than giving food!”
Taylor said she sees the harshness of Memphis during her shifts, but volunteering with Feed The Needy helps feed her spirit.
“It actually gives me a sense of fulfillment, to fill each box and know that each box is going to a family in a greater way,” Taylor said. “It’s very heartfelt, very fulfilling, versus seeing the roughness
out there. This is calm. Relaxing.”
The space was partitioned into two areas: the packing area, where hundreds of open boxes were waiting to be completed and sealed; and the loading area, where Rawlings-Banks was directing forklifts before eventually climbing into the driver’s seat herself and moving pallets.
As Rawlings-Banks reflected on her 30 years of service, she remained focused on the road ahead.
“This isn’t about me,” she said. “It’s about what God has allowed us to do for our community. And as long as there’s a need, we’ll be here to meet it.” For more information, contact Ruth Rawlings-Banks at (901) 482-1114 or Lisa W. Jenkins at (901) 652-5063. Follow the effort on social media using #30YearsOfFeedingNeighbors and #FeedTheNeedy901. Or visit the website at https://www.feedtheneedy1994. org.
By Lee Eric Smith Interim Editor
WhenMayor Paul Young took office in January, he vowed to mash the gas pedal on the city’s fight against blight and crime. With citywide crime down 13.8 percent and a staggering 33 percent drop in Downtown Memphis, he now has the numbers to prove the progress.
On Friday in a meeting with about 40 civic and business leaders, Young pushed the pedal to the metal, unveiling a suite of cutting-edge measures to keep the momentum going.
“The work is working,” Young said. “Our strategies are driving crime down, but we’re not satisfied yet. We’ve made progress, but there’s still a long way to go. We’re committed to continuing this work to make Memphis the safe, vibrant city it deserves to be.”
The numbers tell a story of progress: total crime in Memphis is down 13.8 percent compared to last year. Violent crime has dropped by 19.1 percent, and Downtown Memphis has seen a dramatic 26 percent reduction in overall crime. Motor vehicle thefts, a persistent challenge for urban areas, have plummeted 37.4 percent citywide and a remarkable 48 percent downtown.
“We are down in every precinct, double digits in most of them, and they’re continuing to reduce,” said Interim Police Chief Cerelyn “CJ” Davis. “I have to give a hat tip to the men and women of the Memphis Police Department because they have been relentless in all of the various initiatives.”
Young pointed out that Memphis isn’t just keeping pace with national trends—it’s surpassing them. He showed a series of “Memphis vs. Errrbody” graphics, indicating how Memphis is outperforming other cities like Nashville, Atlanta and Detroit. “We’re not just following the trend; we’re setting the pace.”
The city wants to tell a different story about crime, to change the narrative. And Young and other leaders openly challenged media outlets in the room covering
the session to spread the good news.
“That narrative of crime has really had an impact in previous years, but we’re seeing a record investment this year alone, and we’re gonna build on that,” said Greater Memphis Chamber President and CEO Ted Townsend. “[The positive crime trend] is going to absolutely be incorporated into our narrative.
“I’ve got 40 projects in our economic development pipeline right now, and I can’t wait to go out and engage in discussions with all of those decision-makers who are considering whether or not to invest (in Memphis),” he added.
Young echoed the sentiment.
“I ask our friends in the press: It’s important for us to highlight [the progress] because you’re economic developers too,” Young said. “It’s important for those stories to get out there because people are reading them and consuming that data.
“Crime doesn’t go down by happenstance—it goes
down because of intentional, collaborative work,” Young emphasized. “It’s up to all of us to change that narrative. Memphis is making progress, and we need to make sure the world knows it.”
AI keeping an eye on Downtown . . . and beyond
They say never bring a knife to a gunfight.
In Downtown Memphis’ ongoing battle against crime and gun violence, the city is bringing something even sharper: big data, AI-powered surveillance, and an increased police presence.
As impressive as the crime trends were, the even bigger news came with Mayor Paul Young’s announcement that the city has already begun deploying high-definition, artificial intelligence-enabled cameras—not just Downtown, but across Memphis.
“The technology is a game changer for law enforcement,” Davis said, from a law enforcement perspec-
Using big data to drive the fight on crime, Memphis city officials noticed a trend among similarly sized cities: Areas within 1 mile of a city’s arena had higher crime rates. That held true for FedExForum as well, but as crime has been trending downwards, Memphis is doing better than cities like Nashville, New Orleans and Detroit. Officials believe the added police presence, AI cameras and command center will reduce crime further and help change Memphis’ reputation for being a dangerous city. (Graphics: City of Memphis)
tive. “We use tools as a force multiplier. When you don’t have an officer to put on every corner, you’ve got a camera that you can put there, and you can have one officer manning 10 different cameras.”
But why the focus on Downtown?
“Downtown is the space where we all gather. It’s the only neighborhood that’s everybody’s neighborhood,” Young said. “Think about it. It’s everybody’s neighborhood. And we want everybody to feel safe here.”
With 246 cameras already operational in Downtown Memphis—ranging from license plate readers
to private surveillance systems connected through the Connect Memphis program—the city plans to add 183 new public cameras. Of those, 63 will be high-tech intersection cameras capable of scanning for vehicles, tracking license plates, and identifying potential threats in real-time.
To emphasize the point, Young did a “real-time” demonstration of his own. Using a laptop, he clicked into a camera at the intersection of Kimball, Pendleton and Lamar. “Let’s say police are looking for a red car, or maybe an SUV. They’re identifying every SUV
that has run through that intersection.”
Citywide, 550 new AI-enabled cameras are being installed, with 220 already funded and in various stages of deployment. This initiative is powered by the city’s $850 million Blue Suede fiber network, which provides high-speed connectivity to ensure that these tools operate seamlessly.
Young then zoomed in on a single license plate on a car halfway down the street.
“These (cameras) are about 10 times better than the technology we’ve been using,” he said proudly. “In this instance, they’re identifying a car, and they want to check the license plate. Someone from the Real Time Crime Center is able to look at that car’s license plate from that far away.
“Previously, an officer would have to go out there and check for that vehicle,” he said. “Now, we have the ability to do (that type of thing) from our Real Time Command Center.”
What about face recognition? Can the technology be used to ID people with warrants?
“Right now, we’re using our technology only for objects — vehicles, tags, and things of that nature,” Davis said later. “I know across the country, some airports use facial recognition for various reasons, but we are not using our technology at this time for that.”
If all goes according to plan, the Memphis Police Department will soon have a highly-visible footprint at Peabody Place, just doors down from Hooters and mere yards from Beale Street and FedExForum. The 2,500-square-foot facility will be staffed around the clock with officers monitoring cameras for any signs of criminal activity.
There will be more boots on the ground, too. MPD plans to deploy officers on foot, horseback, and motorcycles throughout the Downtown district, especially during events that draw larger crowds. Officers will also make mandatory drop-ins with business owners to build relationships and ensure safety.
“Downtown is the living room for our whole region. It’s important that we have a safe living room for our community—not just for tourists, but for the residents of our city,” Mayor Paul Young said.
The placement of the command center wasn’t random. Young noted that their own crime data, as well as comparisons with other cities, highlighted that areas around arenas and stadiums tend to attract more incidents. This informed the decision to focus resources near key Downtown attractions, including FedExForum, Beale Street, and Redbirds Stadium. But it’s also deliberately designed so that people
Page 8
“We want to get the city back to a sense of normalcy, what we all feel is a sense of normalcy. Crime is just not going to go away completely, but we feel good about the direction we’re going.”
— Police Chief Cerelyn “CJ” Davis
From Page 7
walking down the street can actually see officers in the command center — a reassurance for law-abiding citizens, and hopefully a deterrent for criminal behavior.
“We want to get the city back to a sense of normalcy, what we all feel is a sense of normalcy,” Davis said. “Crime is just not going to go away completely, but we feel good about the direction we’re going.”
Memphis’ new public safety approach isn’t made up of lofty ideas and no execution — it’s already in progress, Young said. When business leaders asked what was needed to execute the plan, Young said his office was still determining the costs of infrastructure investment.
“But we’re not waiting,” he added. “I want that to be the important point. We are investing now.”
And despite the presentation focusing on Downtown Memphis, Young repeatedly emphasized that similar tools and strategies are being implemented in ZIP codes where the data says they are most needed.
“We definitely want people that refuse to obey the law to understand that we are not going to tolerate it as a community,” Young said. “Our community has been fed up for months—years—with negative activity.”
Of the 550 AI-enabled cameras slated for installation citywide, he said, 220 have already been funded, and many are operational. The new command center at Peabody Place is expected to open by April 1, just in time for the Grizzlies playoffs and Downtown’s busy spring season.
The deployment of technology and officers Downtown is only part of a broader strategy. MPD is also ramping up initiatives like the Fugitive Task Force, which has executed over 480 violent crime warrants in just two months, and the Blight Zero program, which targets blight-prone areas to address crime at its roots.
And earlier this week, almost 40 area nonprofits were awarded more than $1 million to use in programs to help deter youth from falling into a cycle of crime in the first place.
“Our goal is to make sure that those people who want to come Downtown have a good time, a safe time, are able to do that,” he continued. “And those that have bad intentions choose not to come down here and participate in that activity.”
(See related video at: https://tri-statedefender.com/ mayor-young-unveils-ai-tools-and-strategies-for-downtown-and-beyond/11/24/.)
By Terry Davis Special to The Tri-State Defender
Ja Morant returned rust-free after an eight-game absence to lead the Memphis Grizzlies to a 123-98 route of the visiting Portland Trailblazers on Monday Nov. 25.
It was the third consecutive win for the Grizzlies (11-7).
Morant led all scorers with 22 points on 6-12 shooting, including 2-3 from long range.
The sixth-year guard also dished out 12 assists for the Grizzlies in his first game back from a hip abductor injury. As a team, the Grizzlies totalled 35 assists for the night.
However, it was Morant’s defense on Anfernee Simons that drew praise from above.
“I think our discipline and our closeout is a little bit better. There’s sometimes where we’re not getting out there with urgency, or we’re not pressing upon them. I think a lot of it is our point-of-attack defense,” said Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins. “You see what Ja can do tonight, when he takes on Simons, who’s a dynamic scorer.”
Portland’s third leading scorer, who currently averages 16.3 points per game, was held to five points on 2-14 shooting, including one of seven from downtown. As a team, the Trailblazers went 8-46 from three-point territory. Overall, they connected on a slim 34-102 attempts, shooting at a 33.3% clip for the game.
“That was me and the coach’s number one topic coming into the season. Most people consider me one of the most athletic guards. There is no way I should not be able to guard on that end of the floor,” said Morant.
Jenkins sat Morant after 23 minutes of play.
Marcus Smart also rejoined the Grizzlies after a four-game absence
with a sprained right ankle. The guard provided 19 minutes off the bench as he works his was back from injury, con-
tributing six points, four assists, along with two steals.
“It definitely was tough, especially
just sitting there. But like I said, I have been doing this for a long time, so I got to balance it out and keep myself going and let myself know that I need to take it slow, take it one-step at a time. There is no need to rush back out there, so just do what you do.”
Memphis guards GG Jackson and Vince Williams, Jr., and center Zach Edey sat out out with injuries.
The Trailblazers have also been beset by ailments. A total of seven players sat out the night’s contest, including centers Andre Ayton and 2024 first-round pick Donovan Clingin.
It was the absence of an inside presence that allowed Memphis to score efficiently – and feast on the boards. Overall, the Grizzlies enjoyed a 60-44 rebounding margin. Backup power forward Santi Aldama gathered 17 rebounds, a game high. The Spaniard also chipped 11 points.
Meanwhile, Jaren Jackson provided front court scoring balance, with 21 points on 8-12 shooting. Center Brandon Clark scored 11 points and nine rebounds, while backup Jay Huff added 12 points.
Portland was led by Deni Avidja’s 17 points off the bench. Shaedon Sharp led the visiting starters with 15 points.
After going into the half with a 65-54 deficit, Portland cut the Grizzlies’ lead to six points with 9:19 remaining in the third quarter. It was the closest margin. Memphis began the following quarter with a 92-75 lead. In the fourth quarter, Portland was outscored 31-23.
With the return of a starter and a major rotational player, Jenkins has bittersweet decisions to make regarding player minutes. In Morant and Smart’s absence, Scottie Pippen Jr. and Jaylen Wells have been playing at a high level.
During the Grizzlies last game against the Chicago Bulls on Sunday, Nov. 23, Pippen scored 30 points and 10 assists to lead all players in both categories. Wells scored 26 points with six three-pointers. Memphis won the high-scoring affair 142-131.
Friday Football Frenzy kicks into overdrive this week as four area teams seek to punch their tickets to the TSSAA BlueCross Bowl state football championships in Chattanooga in December. Each squad brings its own story of resilience, revenge, and redemption, making this a division championship weekend to remember.
Class 6A: Houston (12-1) vs. Oakland (13-0)
At the top of the gridiron hierarchy, Houston High School returns to defend its Class 6A state title after a decisive 33-14 victory over Collierville in the semifinals. Senior quarterback Chandler Day delivered a standout performance, passing for 121 yards and a touchdown while rushing for two additional scores. Fellow senior Leadrick James added 100 yards on the ground, showcasing the Mustangs’ offensive versatility.
Houston, now 12-1, will face powerhouse Oakland High School (13-0) in the final. The Mustangs hope to secure back-to-back state championships, cementing their status as Tennessee’s top high school football program.
Class 1A: Memphis Academy of Science and Engineering (11-1) vs. McKenzie (13-0)
In Class 1A, the Memphis Academy of Science and Engineering (MASE) continued its impressive playoff run with a dominant 42-0 victory over Union City. The win avenged last year’s heartbreaking one-point semifinal loss and showcased the Phoenix’s offensive
firepower and defensive prowess.
Senior quarterback Brody Whitakker was unstoppable, throwing for 280 yards and three touchdowns. Wide receiver Darius Smith racked up 135 yards, while Duante Jones added 100 rushing yards.
The Phoenix (11-1) will host undefeated McKenzie (13-0) in the championship game, marking their first-ever trip to the state finals. Head coach Cedric Miller praised his team’s determination: “Revenge was on our minds all week. These kids fought their butts off all year.”
Class 2A: Fairley (11-0) vs. Milan (12-1)
The undefeated Fairley Bulldogs (110) are riding high after a commanding 48-18 victory over Memphis Business Academy in the Class 2A semifinals. Quarterback Andre Johnson led the charge with 103 passing yards and three touchdowns, while versatile playmakers Zyress Jones and Anquan Richmond combined for nearly 200 all-purpose yards and three scores.
Fairley will take on Milan High School (12-1) in a highly anticipated championship showdown. The Bulldogs are seeking their first state title in program history, and fans expect their balanced offense and tenacious defense to shine under the bright lights.
Class 4A: Melrose (9-3) vs. Pearl-Cohn (10-3)
Melrose High School has turned back the clock, advancing to its first Class 4A championship game since
2005 with a 35-15 victory over Dyer County. Senior standout Jarmarion Morrow was the driving force, amassing 248 all-purpose yards in a statement performance. Teammate Rhyan Brown added 154 rushing yards and a touchdown, fueling the Golden Wildcats’ second-half surge.
Melrose (9-3) will face Pearl Cohn (10-3) in a battle of storied programs. With Morrow committed to the Uni-
versity of Missouri and riding high on his semifinal heroics, Melrose fans are eager to see their Golden Wildcats reclaim glory.
By Kenya Hunter Associated Press
ATLANTA (AP) — As she checked into a recent flight to Mexico for vacation, Teja Smith chuckled at the idea of joining another Women’s March on Washington.
As a Black woman, she just couldn’t see herself helping to replicate the largest act of resistance against then-President Donald Trump’s first term in January 2017. Even in an election this year where Trump questioned his opponent’s race, held rallies featuring racist insults and falsely claimed Black migrants in Ohio were eating residents’ pets, he didn’t just win a second term. He became the first Republican in two decades to clinch the popular vote, although by a small margin.
“It’s like the people have spoken and this is what America looks like,” said Smith, the Los Angeles-based founder of the advocacy social media agency, Get Social. “And there’s not too much more fighting that you’re going to be able to do without losing your own sanity.”
After Trump was declared the winner over Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris, many politically engaged Black women said they were so dismayed by the outcome that they were reassessing — but not completely abandoning — their enthusiasm for electoral politics and movement organizing.
Black women often carry much of the work of getting out the vote in their communities. They had vigorously supported the historic candidacy of Harris, who would have been the first woman of Black and South Asian descent to win the presidency.
Harris’ loss spurred a wave of Black women across social media resolving to prioritize themselves, before giving so much to a country that over and over has shown its indifference to their concerns.
AP VoteCast, a survey of more than
120,000 voters, found that 6 in 10 Black women said the future of democracy in the United States was the single most important factor for their vote this year, a higher share than for other demographic groups. But now, with Trump set to return to office in two months, some Black women are renewing calls to emphasize rest, focus on mental health and become more selective about what fight they lend their organizing power to.
“America is going to have to save herself,” said LaTosha Brown, the co-founder of the national voting rights group Black Voters Matter.
She compared Black women’s presence in social justice movements as “core strategists and core organizers” to the North Star, known as the most consistent and dependable star in the galaxy because of its seemingly fixed position in the sky. People can rely on Black women to lead change, Brown said, but the next four years will look different.
“That’s not a herculean task that’s for us. We don’t want that title. ... I have no goals to be a martyr for a nation that cares nothing about me,” she said.
AP VoteCast paints a clear picture of Black women’s concerns.
Black female voters were most likely to say that democracy was the single most important factor for their vote, compared to other motivators such as high prices or abortion. More than 7 in 10 Black female voters said they were “very concerned” that electing Trump would lead the nation toward authoritarianism, while only about 2 in 10 said this about Harris.
About 9 in 10 Black female voters supported Harris in 2024, according to AP VoteCast, similar to the share that backed Democrat Joe Biden in 2020. Trump received support from more than half of white voters, who made up the vast majority of his coalition in both years.
Like voters overall, Black women
were most likely to say the economy and jobs were the most important issues facing the country, with about one-third saying that. But they were more likely than many other groups to say that abortion and racism were the top issues, and much less likely than other groups to say immigration was the top issue.
Despite those concerns, which were well-voiced by Black women throughout the campaign, increased support from young men of color and white women helped expand Trump’s lead and secured his victory.
Politically engaged Black women said they don’t plan to continue positioning themselves in the vertebrae of the “backbone” of America’s democracy. The growing movement prompting Black women to withdraw is a shift from history, where they are often present and at the forefront of political and social change.
One of the earliest examples is the women’s suffrage movement that led to ratification in 1920 of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, which gave women the right to vote. Black women, however, were prevented from voting for decades afterward because of Jim Crow-era literacy tests, poll taxes and laws that blocked the grandchildren of slaves from voting. Most Black women couldn’t vote until the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
Black women were among the organizers and counted among the marchers brutalized on the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Alabama, during the historic march in 1965 from Selma to Montgomery that preceded federal legislation. Decades later, Black women were prominent organizers of the Black Lives Matter movement in response to the deaths of Black Americans at the hands of police and vigilantes.
In his 2024 campaign, Trump called for leveraging federal money to eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion
programs in government programs and discussions of race, gender or sexual orientation in schools.
Tenita Taylor, a Black resident of Atlanta who supported Trump this year, said she was initially excited about Harris’ candidacy. But after thinking about how high her grocery bills have been, she feels that voting for Trump in hopes of finally getting lower prices was a form of self-prioritization.
“People say, ‘Well, that’s selfish, it was gonna be better for the greater good,’’’ she said. “I’m a mother of five kids. ... The things that (Democrats) do either affect the rich or the poor.”
Some of Trump’s plans affect people in Olivia Gordon’s immediate community, which is why she struggled to get behind the “Black women rest” wave. Gordon, a New York-based lawyer who supported the Party for Socialism and Liberation’s presidential nominee, Claudia de la Cruz, worries about who may be left behind if the 92% of Black women voters who backed Harris simply stopped advocating.
Nicole Lewis, an Alabama-based therapist who specializes in treating Black women’s stress, said she’s aware that Black women withdrawing from social impact movements could have a fallout. But she also hopes that it forces a reckoning for the nation to understand the consequences of not standing in solidarity with Black women.
Brown said a reckoning might be exactly what the country needs, but it’s a reckoning for everyone else. Black women, she said, did their job when they supported Harris in droves in hopes they could thwart the massive changes expected under Trump.
“This ain’t our reckoning,” she said. “I don’t feel no guilt.”
(AP polling editor Amelia Thomson DeVeaux and Associated Press writer Linley Sanders in Washington contributed to this report.)