According to recent polling, former Pres. Donald Trump is projected to secure 18 percent of the African American vote in the United States — and 23 percent in Philadelphia — in part because of the support of high-profile rappers.
To bestselling author, public intellectual and “hip hop” professor Michael Eric Dyson, that is a result of a basic lack of civil understanding — “Trump didn’t write you a [Covid] check. He don’t got no money,” Dyson told former Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed and former Philly Mayor Michael Nutter on the latest episode of How to Really Run A City — as well as misconceptions about masculine “swag.”
“They think he’s got swag. He’s got borrowed swag. It’s a shame and a trauma that they see him as legitimate. It’s an indictment of [poor messaging on] our side,” Dyson said.
Mayor Nutter agreed. Students got debt relief, right? he asked. Somebody’s working on a bridge right now because of the infrastructure bill. Where are those people? Where are those ads?
“That’s brilliant,” Dyson said. “I’m going to the White House on Juneteenth. I’m going to tell them this.”
Check out the first of two insightful — and hilarious — episodes featuring Dr. Dyson, along with the mayors and Citizen Co-founder Larry Platt.
Watch the conversation play out on YouTube. [Dyson comes in at around the 26 minute mark.] Or listen to the audio. Subscribe to the podcast here to keep up with new episodes as they are released.
WATCH HOW TO REALLY RUN A CITY WITH MICHAEL ERIC DYSON
As always, let us know what you think and who you would like to hear from on future episodes of the podcast. You can email us directly at podcast@thephiladelphiacitizen.org.
