The 44 Percent: Brownsville cityhood, minority business grant, Black residents on Trump presidency

Elections have consequences.

It’s what people have repeated since the November election. Now, we’re starting to see the ramifications of a Donald Trump presidency and what that might mean for Black communities, who would likely be disproportionately affected by his recent policies.

One in particular, the rolling back of diversity, equity and inequality initiatives and race- and gender-focused programs, hurts our communities in particular because it limits opportunity economically. Government jobs have long been a gateway to build the Black middle class.

With the eradication of such programs, Black residents will likely struggle building generational wealth. That said, while reporting on the expectations of a Trump presidency, one thing is clear: Black people will lean on community more than ever.

INSIDE THE 305:

Miami-Dade commission paves way for historic Black neighborhoods to study becoming a city

Black neighborhoods in Miami-Dade County can take a step forward in exploring if becoming a city is beneficial with the county commissioners extending the lifespan of the North Central Dade Municipal Advisory Committee, a key entity in determining the feasibility of the idea.

I spoke to Brownsville Civic Association president Kenneth Kilpatrick, who described the decision as “a fantastic first step.”

“It enables us now to go and get the data, get the information that we need in order to make an informed decision.”

‘What is he going to do for us?’ Miami’s Black residents consider next Trump presidency

Ahead of the inauguration, I spoke with Black residents about their expectations—if any— for a second Donald Trump presidency. No matter the expectation, many said it’s important that Black people lean into community.

As one person, H. Leight Toney, put it: “That doesn’t mean shrinking our space, our place in the world, but it definitely means cultivating our communities a lot more with a lot more urgency,” she said. “That’s what I say: cultivating our community in the broadest sense with a lot more to say than perhaps we have thought about in recent years.”

Running a minority-owned small business in South Florida? Free training is available

The PNC Foundation recently gave the Miami Bayside Foundation a $500,000 grant to help local small business owners gain access to resources for their businesses. The grant, minority business reporter Michael Butler reported, is a part of PNC’s efforts to better support marginalized communities.

As Butler reports: The program is important because members of marginalized communities are often less aware of available resources, said Cressman Bronson, PNC regional president for Southeast Florida. He noticed that many small business owners got started during the pandemic but didn’t have the support needed to thrive. “Going back to [Paycheck Protection Program] loans, [many] minority business owners didn’t receive those benefits and didn’t know who to call,” he said.

OUTSIDE THE 305:

Haiti’s goal to elect new president by 2026 endangered by political setbacks, UN says

Haiti has been in political turmoil for quite some time and that may be what keeps it from a goal of electing a new president by next year, Miami Herald’s Haiti Correspondent Jacqueline Charles reported.

As Charles writes: The head of the United Nations says there is a possibility that Haiti’s crisis-wracked political transition, already in its fourth year since the 2021 assassination of the country’s president, may not meet its election timeline to restore democracy and put a new president in office by February 2026.

U.N. Secretary-General António Guerres made the observation in his latest report to members of the U.N. Security Council, who met on Wednesday as part of their regular quarterly updates on the deteriorating crisis in Haiti.

Trump Has Issued a Blitz of Executive Orders. Some Could Affect Higher Ed.

Not even a full week into office, Donald Trump has already begun rolling back DEI initiatives at the federal level. It’s possible that could trickle down to higher education and affect Black students.

Per the Chronicle: With federal funding on the line — millions in student financial aid, as well as lucrative contracts and research grants — more colleges could be motivated to revisit their DEI efforts, said Eboo Patel, founder and president of Interfaith America.

“It seems very plausible that higher-education institutions will pre-comply, even before the Department of Education or the National Science Foundation writes it into specific projects,” Patel said. “Universities will adopt the spirit of the executive order.”

HIGH CULTURE:

The Poetry Potluck hosts second annual “Family Cookout”

The Poetry Potluck will host its second annual “Family Cookout” Jan. 26 at Charles Hadley Park, expanding founder Calvin Early’s mission “to host potlucks in primarily Black spaces.”

Miami Herald sports and culture writer C. Isaiah Smalls II previously described the event as a bigger version of the regular potluck which comes complete with a marketplace, live performances and food vendors.

“At a potluck, usually everybody knows everybody,” Early told the Herald in 2024. “Now, the family is now the city and everybody is bringing out their families and everybody is having their own individual potlucks.”

The festivities kick off 1:30 pm on Sunday and run until 7 in the evening. Follow @thepoetrypotluck on Instagram for more information.

-C. Isaiah Smalls II

Where does “The 44 Percent” name come from? Click here to find out how Miami history influenced the newsletter’s title.

This story was originally published January 23, 2025 at 3:11 PM.

Raisa Habersham

Miami Herald

Raisa Habersham is the race and culture reporter for the Miami Herald. She previously covered Hollywood and Fort Lauderdale for the Herald with a focus on housing and affordability. Habersham is a graduate of the University of Georgia. She joined the Herald in 2022.