SE Valley Times

Black men and women dream of creating their own destiny of generational wealth through barbershops, beauty salons, clothing brands, technology startups, and restaurants. For decades, Donald Trump has been a symbol of economic opportunity, entrepreneurship, fashion, prosperity, and success.

Before becoming president, Donald Trump was celebrated by hip hop, Hollywood, rap, and sports. Jay-Z in 2003 said, “I’m at the Trump International, ask for me.” G-Unit rapper, Tony Yayo, in 2005 said while sitting next to the future president, “Smell the money. Smell the money.”

After winning in 2016, President Trump has been a champion for Black Americans. When Trump said he had done more for the Black community than any other president since Abraham Lincoln, he has the record and receipts to back it up.

The first thing he did was make school choice a top priority. He understands that Black Americans have been hindered with limited access to quality education by Democrat leaders who continue to keep Black children trapped in failing schools. Democrat leaders do not understand that Black families also want their children to receive a good education. 

Seeing how poor education has negatively impacted Black Americans over time, President Trump signed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act that provided parents more financial flexibility to send their children to a school of their choice – up to $10,000 in tax breaks. This has helped Black parents with school supplies, tuition, and uniforms.  

As we all know, after education comes economic opportunities. President Trump, through his pro-growth policies, built one of the strongest economies in the world before the coronavirus hit, and he will do it again. 

Right here in Arizona, new businesses, including Black businesses, increased by 23.6 percent, creating one of the top 10 strongest economies in our nation. This also benefited low-income Arizonians as more than 120,000 were lifted out of poverty. His administration also launched the “Ready to Work” initiative giving former prisoners meaningful employment so that they can have a successful life outside of prison. 

During the coronavirus pandemic, President Trump made sure he gave Arizona the resources we need to stay afloat. The Paycheck Protection Program provided $8.6 billion to businesses to ensure companies can continue to pay their employees. President Trump also issued out an executive order suspending immigration so that Black Americans can secure a job first – Promises Made. Promises Kept. 

And now President Trump is working to secure economic prosperity and opportunities for future generations of Black Americans with his Platinum Plan. The president is going out of his way to secure nearly $500 billion in commitments to create a new era of prosperity for Black Americans, and he is even making the Minority Business Development Agency permanent. 

Last Tuesday night at the debate, President Trump reiterated his promise to Black Americans that he would use every tool at his disposal to support Black enterprise moving into the future. He doubled down on his support for school choice and pro-growth policies that will ensure progress and prosperity that will benefit Black Americans well into the future. 

From education to the economy, President Trump has without a doubt kept his promise to the Black community. The educational and economic pipelines are stronger than ever. President Trump needs another four years so that this can last for generations to come. 

– Christian Lamar lives in Phoenix and works as a software engineer in Chandler. He is a member of the Black Voices for Trump coalition.