Philly Leader

I am a Black man born and raised in Philadelphia, who attended public schools.

After high school, I went to college and then enlisted in the United States Navy.  After my military service, I returned to Philadelphia, got married, bought a home, and raised my children here.  

I have volunteered and been active with both civic and religious organizations.  Like most people in the Black community, what matters most to me is faith, family, and the wellbeing of my neighbors. 

My story is the same as countless of Black Americans across Philadelphia. There is one notable exception.  I’ve been an active Republican for more than 30 years.  During that time, I’ve realized the values of the Republican Party are the same values shared by many of my Black friends and family.  I have to admit there have been plenty of times where I’ve been frustrated that friends and family don’t share my political views.

But this year, I see a change.  For years the Democratic Party has come to the Black community every four years, making empty promises in return for the Black vote.  But when I look over the last few decades, since well before I was born, I’ve seen little to no progress in the Black community. 

However, this has drastically changed since Donald Trump became President. 

In the last three years, we have seen improvements in the Black community like never before.  President Trump has delivered: the lowest unemployment for Black Americans on record, historic criminal justice reform, First Step Act, which freed people who had been given prison sentences out of proportion to their crimes. 

Let me remind you that it was Joe Biden who pushed for one of the most notorious crime bills that led to mass incarcerations of Black Americans. President Trump immediately reversed it. Promises Made. Promises Kept. 

President Trump also put in place guaranteed funding for historically black colleges and universities, implemented Opportunity Zones to provide jobs and businesses in black neighborhoods. Currently, 300 communities across Pennsylvania, including right here in Philadelphia, have been designated as Opportunity Zones. The investments you see in the city of Brotherly Love is unprecedented.   

These, along with a long list of other accomplishments, have delivered real improvements in the lives of Black Americans. Couple all of that progress with President Trump’s new Platinum Plan – which aims to give $250 billion in commitments to create an era of new prosperity in Black communities, and I’m confident many Black Americans will give their support to the president’s re-election. In fact, I have spoken with many people in the last couple of months who have been life-long Democrats, will now be voting for President Trump. Now until Election Day, I will be encouraging Black Americans to take a look at President Trump’s record and see how his policies have positively impacted the Black community. 

– Linwood Holland Jr. is a community activist and serves as a member of Black Voices for Trump coalition.