The images of Donald Trump receiving a warm welcome from a predominantly Black audience at an Atlanta Chick-fil-A recently seemed to signify a significant show of support for the former president. However, what many interpreted as a spontaneous display of Black backing was, in reality, a carefully orchestrated photo opportunity, arranged by a Black conservative activist and her allies.
The event was the result of a collaboration between the Trump campaign, local activists and students from local HBCUs. While Trump and his supporters have sought to portray the event as evidence of his appeal to Black voters, critics have pointed to the staged nature of the gathering and the problematic messaging surrounding Trump’s outreach efforts.
Michaelah Montgomery, a conservative activist and founder of Conserve the Culture, played a key role in coordinating the event. Drawing on her connections with students at Atlanta’s HBCU’s, Montgomery notified a group chat of students about Trump’s impending visit to the Vine City neighborhood. Despite claims to the contrary, the gathering at Chick-fil-A was not a spontaneous affair but rather a carefully planned event, with students waiting for Trump’s arrival to pose for photos and videos.
“People find it so hard to believe that there are young Black people who would have loved the opportunity to meet Trump,” said Montgomery.
Montgomery’s involvement highlights the complexities of political outreach within the Black community, where differing perspectives and priorities often come into play. While some may view Trump’s visit as an opportunity for engagement, others see it as a cynical attempt to exploit Black support for political gain, calling it disingenuous and insulting to the intelligence of Black voters.
“Thinking Black voters relate to Donald Trump because he spent 20 minutes handing out freebies at a fast food restaurant is yet another insult to our intelligence – and a perfect example of just how disingenuous Trump’s outreach to Black voters continues to be,” said Biden spokesperson, Jasmine Harris.
Despite the backlash, Montgomery remains steadfast in her support for Trump and her belief in the effectiveness of events like the Chick-fil-A visit. However, she acknowledges the challenges faced by students who participated in the event, many of whom have been subjected to criticism and backlash from their peers and the broader community.
“They are claiming that the students made a mockery of their institutions and saying that they are disrespecting their ancestors. It is really, really bad,” said Montgomery.