Halloween may be over, but for many Black people around the country, the nightmares have not stopped. The combination of the stakes of the 2024 presidential election and the fact that polls show a statistical dead heat between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump is keeping plenty of us up at night worrying about what a second Trump term might mean for the country – and more specifically for communities of color.
Suggested Reading
Last week, we told you about a New York Times opinion piece that outlined the terrifying campaign promises Trump will keep if he makes his way back into the White House, from mass deportations to ordering the military to go after American citizens he believes are not #TeamTrump.
And in the days leading up to the election, Black social media and chat groups are loaded with proof that election anxiety is real.
“This election has my anxiety high and my edges about to fall out,” wrote one X user.”
“I feel like so many people around me don’t understand what’s at stake in this election. It’s frightening and a serious source of anxiety for me right now,” wrote someone else on X.
“I can’t imagine a world where he wins. I know it’s possible...but my God, it just can’t happen,” wrote one member of a Black chat group.
“Let’s continue to pray,’’ responded another member of the same chat.
One reader of The Root told us that her encounters with some pro-Trump white people in North Carolina have led to her having recurring nightmares about how his potential reelection will impact her young daughter.
“Some people have the attitude that our problems as minorities are not their problems, and that fact that his name was on the bottom of the stimulus checks is going to bring them more money,” she said. “I had a nightmare of the return of slavery and The Handmaids Tale. [In my dream], I’m running with my [9-year-old] daughter to try to keep her reproductive rights in tact.”
Black therapists have confirmed that there is an increased level of election anxiety in our community.
“I think this election season, especially for Black women, is bringing up a lot as it relates to Vice President Kamala Harris’ credentials and people questioning her credentials or increased hate speech,” said Dr. Joy Harden Bradford host of the Therapy for Black Girls podcast. “I think it is just leading to an increased level of stress for people.
People are dealing with their fears of the outcome in different ways.
Some are choosing to use alcohol to help them handle what’s to come.
“Imma either drink in celebration or to numb 😫😭 either way I’m drinking 😅,” commented someone on a TikTok post.
Some are plotting their move out of the country altogether.
“I already picked my apartment out in Canada I don’t got time for this 😂😂,” wrote another person in the comments.
Still others are advocating for a couple of extra PTO days for people of color.
“Whenever a far-right candidate/party wins an election, black and brown folks should have couple of days of paid political leave/holiday to help them deal with anxiety caused by the whites lool. I mean our colleagues voted to harm you we shld stay our ass home lmao,” wrote an X user.
But one of the scariest things about this election is that some Black people believe that there is no good outcome.
“As a black man in America you can’t be absolutely nothing but petrified to vote in this years election. Ain’t no outcome looking the brightest for us. None whatsoever,” wrote an X user.
Straight From 
Sign up for our free daily newsletter.