Reporter Taryn Finley, front page editor Philip Lewis and I traveled to Columbia, South Carolina, in January to talk to Black voters ahead of the state’s primary at the end of this month. We wanted to gauge how residents were feeling about the upcoming election and to dispel the myth of “the Black vote” as a monolithic group. I talked to Finley and Lewis about their experiences in the Palmetto State and where we hope to go from here.
Getting started with this project, there was a lot to parse through about how campaigns and the media treat Black voters. What did you hope to reveal in this project?
Phil: We wanted to show readers that Black voters aren’t monolithic. People sometimes think of Black people as one-issue voters, but this project is just one example that shows their issues are just as diverse as any other demographic.
Taryn: I co-sign, Phil, and also I think we wanted to show just how unseen and unheard Black voters feel. Because they’re often clumped into monolithic categories, it’s rare that the values that they hold are explored and analyzed like they should be. Politicians and media just assume that Black people are motivated by singular issues because they don’t take the time to actually talk to them.
What was the most surprising thing you learned in your reporting?
Phil: Being Black, I definitely wasn’t surprised that Black voters have different thoughts about voting. But I was surprised at how influential TV and radio ads still are, even in 2020. Nearly everyone we talked with mentioned Tom Steyer and his massive ad campaign in South Carolina.
Taryn: Before heading down to Columbia, I thought the generational divide would be more prevalent when it came to candidate support. Issues were more important to voters than the actual candidates running, which I knew beforehand, but it was really eye-opening to see how that played out in folks’ minds ahead of the primaries.
Did you face any roadblocks and how did you get around them?
Phil: The biggest roadblock was scheduling and setting up the interviews. We had people not respond to calls after setting up interview times, which actually worked out well — we found some of our best interviewees by walking the streets.
Taryn: A big obstacle for us was finding different people who weren’t super politically engaged who were interested in talking. I think a big part of that is due to the complicated and sometimes inaccessible nature of how America discusses politics and also a general erasure of Black voters from many conversations. Once we were able to get more folks to open up, however, it further highlighted just how pragmatic Black voters are.
Why do you think it is important to tell these stories?
Phil: It is our responsibility as reporters to break down the myths and stereotypes people have about Black voters.
Taryn: I grew up in the Midwest with two really politically active parents, so I noticed early on how much generalizations and stereotypes of Black voters fundamentally hurt democracy. As one of the most vulnerable yet valuable demographics in the country, I think it is crucial that America takes a step back and really reassesses how we approach race in politics.
If you could go to another city to execute this project, where would you go next?
Phil: I’d want to go to a city in either Florida or Ohio. Tallahassee or Akron, respectively.
Taryn: I’d definitely say somewhere in the Midwest because I’ve seen stories like mine and those who look like me go untold. I would love to go back to my hometown of Dayton, Ohio, or to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to talk to Black voters.
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