Turning Point USA, co-founded by conservative firebrand Charlie Kirk, has become one of the most influential youth political movements in U.S. history.
Launched in 2012 with backing from Tea Party millionaire William Montgomery, the organization “empowers” students to build conservative grassroots networks on high school and college campuses across America. Its messaging—considered by many Black people to be anti-Black, anti-women and anti-immigrant—has been wildly successful.
By 2024, Turning Point had chapters on 3,500 campuses, $85 million in revenue brought in that year and a massive digital footprint. Analysts credit it as a major force behind Donald Trump’s two presidential victories (2016 and 2024), which gave the GOP control of the White House, both chambers of Congress and a conservative supermajority on the U.S. Supreme Court.
The organization’s ability to energize young white males in particular has changed the country’s political landscape. A 2024 Harvard poll found that Americans aged 18–24 are now more likely to lean conservative than their predecessors. Axios reports that 26% of men aged 18–24 identify as conservative, compared to 21% of those aged 25–29.
For many Black progressives, the question becomes: Where is the pro-Black, justice-centered counter to Turning Point USA?
The opportunity—and the gap
Despite Turning Point’s dominance, the Republican Party remains unpopular overall. As of mid-2025, only about 40% of Americans approved of the GOP, and Trump’s approval rating hovered around 38%. Major policy moves—such as new ICE deportation raids and the “One Big Beautiful Bill” tax law—received majority disapproval.
So, with much of the country opposing MAGA policies, might there be an opportunity to politicize young Black voters, particularly men, around a vision of empowerment and equity?
The challenge: No single individual or organization currently matches Turning Point’s financial backing, infrastructure or reach.
Afro-futurist Jaison Oliver put it plainly.
“Honestly, none that I follow closely,” said Oliver. “There’s a need for reliable, thoughtful information about education, politics, technology—all of that. I think a lot of conversations are happening, but I definitely want to see more.”
Houston urban gardener Tre Lemons agreed.
“Actually, I think it’s a concerted effort to keep us destabilized here with Houston politics,” Lemons said. “We’ve got multiple key positions open, and 10 Democrats running for the same space. Nobody is leading the march. What people don’t understand is, either you feed the wolves or you get eaten by the wolves.”
Still, others see pockets of hope.
Texas Southern University student Jalon Ross pointed to the Collegiate 100 and Emerging 100 organizations, which work to educate Black college students about politics and leadership.
“That’s two organizations I would recommend,” Ross said.
Local and national efforts
Longtime activist Deloyd Parker, co-founder of Houston’s SHAPE Community Center, believes several groups are already doing the work—if not yet at Turning Point’s scale.
“The Positive Black Male Association, led by John Robinson—‘Dr. Rob’—is doing that. Deric Muhammad’s [Smart’n Up Black Male Summit] is doing that. And SHAPE has always worked to build the character of young Black men. We teach them about our past, our greatness and our undying love for our people,” Parker said.
Other Houston organizations are building political consciousness through education and engagement.
- The NAACP Houston Branch runs political action and social justice committees.
- The Houston Area Urban League (HAUL) operates a Center for Social Justice Education and Advocacy focused on racial inequities and civic empowerment.
- The HAUL Young Professionals conducts voter registration drives and hosts civic engagement forums.
- Many Black faith institutions also maintain political action ministries.
On the national level, the NAACP, National Urban League and Black Voters Matter (BVM) are at the forefront.
BVM’s co-founder LaTosha Brown told NPR that connecting with young Black voters means addressing their lived realities.
“There continues to be this desire, particularly among young people, for real criminal justice reform,” said Brown. “They entered the process in 2020 with hopes that policy would follow—but we haven’t seen that yet.”
This year, BVM relaunched its ‘We Fight Back’ campaign, including ‘Take the Field,’ which mobilizes high school and college students toward civic activism.
Model in the making
One of the most comprehensive pro-Black responses comes from The Black Man Lab (BML).
“The Black Man Lab focuses on empowering young Black men through four pillars: personal growth, professional development, economic empowerment and political education,” said BML Foundation Executive Director Marty Monegain. “We want to inspire brothers to become active in civic matters and build a stable infrastructure for our communities.”
The organization hosts workshops, mentorship programs and community events, all rooted in African-centered identity and social justice.
“Unlike Turning Point, which mobilizes white youth around conservative ideas, we focus on historical context, political agency and civic engagement,” Monegain said. “In two election cycles, we conducted a 13-city tour through Georgia, creating spaces for young Black men to debunk misinformation and make informed political decisions. What became clear is that these conversations can’t just happen during election seasons.”
Conservative pushback
Turning Point and similar conservative movements are not ignoring Black youth. Groups like BLEXIT, co-founded by Candace Owens, are targeting HBCUs with debate tables and social media stunts designed to provoke viral clashes.
At Bowie State University, one student put it bluntly to a local reporter, “Nobody told y’all to come here, and that means nobody wanted y’all to be here.”
Activists on social media are warning parents and students not to engage with these provocateurs, advising them to “walk away and go to class.”
Social media: The new political classroom
For young adults, social media remains the dominant space for political learning and identity formation. Fortunately, the pro-Black side has its own ecosystem of voices and creators shaping political literacy, including:
- Lurie Daniel Favors, Lurie Breaks It Down podcast and SiriusXM show
- Karen Hunter & Dr. Greg Carr, In Class with Carr
- Tiffany Cross, Angela Rye & Andrew Gillum, Native Land podcast
- Joy Reid, The Joy Reid Show (YouTube, Substack)
- @joyannreid
- @theconsciouslee / George Lee Jr. (Instagram)
- @doss.discourse
- @sunmcheaux
- @ashleytheebarroness
- @realdlhughley
- @daratuckerb
- @keithboykin
- @keiseanraines
- @historyin3 / Dr. Xavier Buck
- @michaelharriot
- @tabithaspeakspolitics
- @BlkLivesMatter
- @WorldAfroDay
- @amandaseales
- @TheFreedomBloc
- @BlackMamasMatter
- @VoteBlackPac
- @mariebeech
- @colorofchange
