AMERICAN FREEDMEN INDEPENDENT CLUB OF NEW YORK
OFFICIAL POST-ELECTION STATEMENT
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 4, 2026
AFIC-NY: BLACK AMERICA DELIVERED ITS VOTE. NOW IT IS TIME FOR DEMOCRATS TO DELIVER RESULTS.
Black voters deserve a clear commitment to jobs, homeownership, better education, economic independence, and stronger families—not another four years of political promises.
NEW YORK, NY — The American Freedmen Independent Club of New York (AFIC-NY) is calling on Governor Kathy Hochul and New York’s Democratic leadership to address a question that should be on the minds of every Black voter following the November 3 general election: What are Black Americans getting in return for their continued political support?
The election is over. The candidates have made their speeches. The celebrations have begun, and Democratic leaders are once again thanking Black voters for helping them win. We respect the democratic process and congratulate those who were elected. However, we believe that thanking Black voters is not enough. The people who helped elect these officials deserve to know what their support will mean for their families, their communities, and their economic future.
For generations, Black Americans have been among the Democratic Party’s most dependable supporters. We have stood with the party through difficult elections, defended its candidates, and supported its leadership. Yet many of the problems that have affected Black communities for decades remain unresolved. Black unemployment continues to be a concern, homeownership remains out of reach for too many working families, and too many of our children are leaving school without the skills necessary to compete in today’s economy.
AFIC-NY believes the time has come for a different kind of political conversation. We are no longer interested in simply hearing who a political party is against. We want to know what that party is prepared to accomplish for the people who continue to support it.
THE POLITICAL LESSON OF “I PROMISED YOU NOTHING”
There is an old political saying that carries an important lesson:
“I didn’t promise a chicken in every pot. I promised you nothing.”
Regardless of its uncertain historical origin, those words describe a situation that Black voters should take seriously. When politicians know they can count on your support without making specific commitments, there is little political pressure on them to explain what they intend to deliver. And when voters fail to demand commitments before an election, they may find themselves disappointed afterward.
This is not about asking politicians for favors or special treatment. It is about understanding that voting is an exercise of political power, and political power should be used to advance the interests of the people exercising it. Every community has concerns, priorities, and expectations. Black Americans should be no different.
For too long, we have allowed political loyalty to become more important than political accountability. We celebrate when candidates win, but we do not always return to ask whether their policies have improved the conditions of our communities. We recognize historic appointments and political representation, but we must also examine whether those achievements have translated into greater homeownership, stronger businesses, better schools, and more economic opportunities.
The lesson behind “I promised you nothing” is that we cannot expect politicians to deliver results we never required them to make. Black voters must begin setting clear expectations, asking direct questions, and holding elected officials responsible for the answers they give.
OPPOSING DONALD TRUMP IS NOT A BLACK ECONOMIC PLAN
During this election, Democrats spoke extensively about Donald Trump, the Republican Party, and the need to protect democracy. We understand that voters have legitimate concerns about federal policies, constitutional rights, and the direction of the country. Those concerns deserve serious attention, and no administration should be exempt from public scrutiny.
However, AFIC-NY does not believe that opposing Donald Trump is enough to constitute an agenda for Black Americans. Fighting Republicans does not automatically create jobs in Black communities. Condemning the president does not make it easier for a Black family to purchase its first home, and filing lawsuits against his administration does not, by itself, improve the academic performance of Black children.
We are asking Governor Hochul and Democratic leaders to explain what their policies will accomplish beyond political opposition. What is the plan to reduce Black unemployment? How will the state help Black families become homeowners? What opportunities will be created for Black-owned businesses, and how will our children be prepared for the changing economy?
These are reasonable questions that deserve serious answers. We are not asking Democrats to abandon their political positions or ignore disagreements with Washington. We are asking them to demonstrate that they can address those disagreements while also making meaningful progress on the problems affecting Black New Yorkers.
We will hold Republican officials to the same expectations. Our organization does not believe that either party should be judged solely by what it says about the other. We believe elected officials should be judged by what they accomplish.
OUR PRIORITIES FOR BLACK NEW YORKERS
AFIC-NY is calling on the Hochul administration and the New York State Legislature to prioritize five areas over the next four years.
Economic opportunity and employment must come first. Black New Yorkers need greater access to good-paying jobs, skilled trades, professional careers, and opportunities to own businesses. When the state announces new economic development projects, taxpayers should be able to see who is being hired, which communities are benefiting, and whether public investments are helping reduce long-standing employment disparities. We want Black workers and business owners to have a fair opportunity to participate in the state’s economic growth.
Homeownership must become a serious part of the state’s housing conversation. Affordable rental housing has its place, but renting cannot be the only long-term housing solution offered to Black working families. We need more opportunities for first-time homebuyers, cooperative housing, affordable condominiums, and programs that help families build equity and pass property to their children. If New York is serious about closing the racial wealth gap, helping more Black families own homes must be part of that effort.
We must treat our children’s education with greater urgency. We cannot continue discussing economic empowerment while overlooking the number of Black students who struggle with reading, mathematics, and basic academic skills. Our children deserve strong schools, qualified teachers, vocational training, financial literacy, and preparation for technology and emerging industries. Not every child will choose college, but every child should leave school prepared to become a productive, economically independent adult.
Public safety and constitutional rights must go hand in hand. Black families deserve neighborhoods where they can live, work, and raise their children without fear of violence. They also deserve professional law enforcement and protection against unconstitutional policing. These goals are not in conflict. We believe government has a responsibility to provide both safe communities and equal protection under the law.
Strong families and healthy communities must remain part of the conversation. Economic opportunity is important, but so are responsible parenting, family stability, physical and mental health, mentorship, and strong community institutions. Government cannot replace the responsibility of families, churches, businesses, and community organizations. At the same time, families should have access to opportunities and public services that help them succeed.
These priorities are not new, and they are not unreasonable. They reflect the everyday concerns of Black parents, workers, business owners, and families who want better opportunities for themselves and their children.
GOVERNOR HOCHUL, WE ARE ASKING FOR A PLAN WE CAN MEASURE
AFIC-NY is calling on Governor Hochul and the New York State Legislature to publicly explain what they intend to accomplish for Black New Yorkers during the next four years. We want more than announcements about how much money has been allocated to programs. We want to know how those investments will improve people’s lives and how the public will be able to measure that improvement.
If the state invests in workforce development, we should know how many Black residents receive training and obtain employment. If housing programs are expanded, we should know how many Black families become homeowners. If education funding increases, we should be able to examine whether Black students are making meaningful academic progress.
We are also calling for greater transparency in government contracting, business development, and public investment. Black-owned businesses should have a fair opportunity to compete, and the public should be able to determine whether government programs are reaching the communities they were designed to serve.
These discussions must include independent Black organizations, educators, business owners, working families, and community leaders. Elected officials should not limit their conversations to organizations that already agree with them politically. Meaningful accountability requires a willingness to hear different opinions, including criticism from the very community’s government is supposed to serve.
BLACK POLITICAL INDEPENDENCE IS ABOUT OUR INTERESTS
The American Freedmen Independent Club of New York believes Black Americans must become more independent in their political thinking. That does not mean automatically voting Republican, abandoning Democrats, or supporting candidates simply because they identify as independents. It means examining every candidate and every policy based on what it will accomplish for our communities.
Black voters should expect more than appeals to party loyalty. They should demand a plan that speaks directly to jobs, housing, education, safety, and economic independence. If a candidate or party cannot provide that plan, Black voters should be prepared to look elsewhere for leadership.
OUR MESSAGE FOLLOWING THE ELECTION
We believe the following statement captures our position following the election:
Black Americans have voted with loyalty, with patience, and with hope. But loyalty without accountability is not a strategy. It is a trap.
We are asking for a plan we can measure. We are asking for results we can see in our jobs, our homes, our schools, and our communities. We are asking for a government that treats our votes as a mandate for action, not as permission to ignore us.
If the Democratic Party is serious about keeping the trust of Black voters, it must stop asking only for their support and start earning it with a measurable plan. The time for vague promises is over. The time for measurable results is now.
ISSUED BY:
Damon K. Jones, President
American Freedmen Independent Club of New York (AFIC-NY)
www.aficny.com
Media Contact: (914) 732-7033
