Qualitative Feedback Reports
October 2021 – January 2022
The Black Progressive Action Coalition, the affiliated c4 of BlackPAC, began conducting civic engagement and voter education in the summer of 2021. Through door-to-door canvassing and surveying of community business owners, BPAC organizers have had over 10,561 conversations with Black voters about priority issue concerns and voter motivation in Georgia, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Michigan. The effort will expand to the state of Wisconsin in March.
This document reviews BPAC’s weekly qualitative feedback reports from October of 2021 through January of 2022 in PA and MI. It provides an overview of mid-term awareness, vote likelihood, and the issue priorities raised by approximately 1,500 voters in their conversations with canvassers and reviews any nuances or points of interest raised in these conversations.
PENNSYLVANIA
Widespread concerns about reducing crime. Approximately 95 percent of the contacts in Pennsylvania raised a policy issue of concern in their conversation with the canvasser, and approximately 60 percent of these conversations mentioned reducing crime.
Concerns about crime centered on economic and educational opportunity and the need for effective leadership by elected officials.Contacts expressing concerns about crime focused on the need to increase economic and educational opportunities in their neighborhoods and the need for stronger elected leadership.
Economic Opportunity
“There are no decent jobs…people are committing petty crimes as a way to get by.” A young African American man named Mir stated that “My friends and I are hardworking young men, we never just sit around and do nothing, but this time around there are no decent jobs to take and be able to be pay your bills… a couple of people … are committing petty crimes as a way to get by, things are really bad in this community.”
“Good education leads to good paying jobs…young black men have been deprived for too long.” Canvasser notes for Ruth, an African American woman in her late 70s, stated “We had a brief conversation with a woman in her late 70's …[she] mainly touched on points as to why the minority community seems behind compared to their white counterparts, because good education leads to good paying jobs. “The fact that young black men have been deprived from quality education for far too long, that is why there is a disconnect and it is affecting us all now, with the violence, unemployment, and homelessness.”
Educational Opportunity
Limited educational options mean children are turning to crime. Emmanuel from Kingsessing stated that “youth nowadays are not being educated properly, which is forcing them to turn to a life of crime. Hence the reason crime rate in the city is so high and being committed by minors.”
“Kids [need]…something to look forward in life.” Sarah from Haddington spoke with canvassers about the need for “more programs and funding for the community centers to be able to take the kids off the street and guide them and give them something to look forward to in life.”
“It’s too dangerous outside...going away to college gives my parents peace of mind.” Donald, an African American man in his 20s, stated “I do not hang out with my childhood friends like before; it is too dangerous outside. I know going away to college gives my parents peace of mind.”
Leadership
“I think the problem is the politicians.” George, an African American man in his late 50s, stated “I do not know why the city has not tried to reduce violence…at this point I think the problem are the politicians. Someone is funneling these guns into the hands of the youth.”
“Leadership is failing.” Cherly, an African American woman in her late 50s, spoke with canvassers about the crime rates in Philadelphia and how there needs to be some type of change, that the leadership is falling all the communities not just here in the city but across all the cities in the United States.
College affordability
Almost 25 percent of contacts who raised a policy issue of concern mentioned issues related to college affordability.
Concerns about debt
Avoiding “a lifetime of debt.” Alex from Haddington stated that he has kids and that he would love for them to be able to get the best quality education that they can receive and not have to go into a lifetime of debt to pay it off.
“If college is affordable…I can see myself being a graduate.” Abdul, an African American man in his late 30s, said that he had stop attending college and work, to “help his parents with some of the bills. If college is made free or affordable enough for me, I can see myself being a graduate.”
Caregiving
Approximately 15 percent of contacts raising a policy issue of concern focused on the need for affordable childcare, 20 percent focused on the need for paid family and medical leave, and an additional 20 percent focused on the need for affordable elder care.
Affordable childcare
Affordable childcare is worth paying more in taxes. Sterling, an African American man in his early 70s, stated “I have not met anyone in Philadelphia that is not struggling with childcare or doesn’t think it’s too expensive… times have changed, things are getting more expensive by the day. We need to tax something else to help the parents.”
If people had childcare, they would be more willing to apply for jobs. Liang from Haddington said that affordable childcare is a “must” because people are not working because of their childcare issues, not because they don’t want to. He stated, “If people had more of a clear answer to childcare more people would be willing to go after the jobs that are available.”
I know people who can’t work because they don’t have childcare.Semera from Mill Creek said that “the city needs to address the issues with childcare because [I] know personally some people who cannot go to work how they would like to due to the childcare issues.”
Paid family medical leave
“It’s not asking for too much.” Ousmane, an African man in his early 30s, said “As someone that works long hours, I believe making paid family medical leave mandatory for us or for workers across the country is not asking for too much.”
People have to quit their jobs to take care of their families. Chantell, an African American woman in her late 30s, stated “Some people must quit their jobs because either their child is sick, their aging parents need medical assistance, or they just need a mental break from all the craziness.”
Affordable elder care
“Hopefully I have a decent job to be able to care for them.” Michael, an African American man in his early 30s, said that half of his family is aging and finding an affordable place for them to stay “is almost an impossible mission. Most places are full, the ones with availability are probably too expensive for city folks like us. My parents will most likely end up living with me… hopefully I have a decent paying job to be able to care for them.”
Voting rights
Of the 574 contacts that provided information on their voting rights priorities, approximately 55 percent stated that stopping state specific restrictions on voting rights was their top priority. Automatic voter registration (13 percent) and reducing big money (9 percent) were also named as issues of interest.
Automatic Voter Registration
“I don’t understand how this is not law.” Chantell, an African American woman in her late 30s, said that she “did not understand how automatic voter registration at 18 is not law, it is ridiculous you can go to war and buy cancer sticks, but you have to file paperwork to exercise your civic duty.”
Reducing money in politics
“No wonder nothing gets done around here.” Roger, an African American man in his early 30s, stated “No wonder nothing gets done around here; these big companies have all these politicians in their pocket. We need to reduce big money immediately that’s who’s messing up our beloved city.”
State voting restrictions
“This state is slowly becoming Georgia.” Charles, an African American man in his 50s, said that “this state is slowly becoming Georgia. Polling locations are getting moved to make it harder for us to exercise our rights. Voting should be made easier not more difficult.”
“We have to be vigilant.” Maxine, an African American woman in her early 50s, reminded canvassers that what happened in Georgia saying that cannot happen here and that “we need to be vigilant.”
Awareness of the Build Back Better plan
Approximately 60 percent of the contacts with complete survey entries were aware of the Biden Administration's Build Back Better plan.
Awareness of mid-term elections and likelihood of voting
Approximately 70 percent of contacts surveyed said they were aware of the upcoming election, and 70 percent of these contacts said they were definitely planning to vote.
MICHIGAN
Reducing crime. Approximately 80 percent of the contacts in Michigan raised a policy issue of concern in their conversation with the canvasser, and approximately 20 percent of them raised the issue of public safety.
Concerns about crime centered on economic and educational opportunity as well as the need for effective community policing and elected leadership. Contacts expressing concerns about crime focused on the need to increase economic and educational opportunities for people in their neighborhoods and the need for effective community policing.
Educational opportunity
“Kids don’t have much to do.” Ben, an African American man in his 30s, stated "we have too much crime in the area, kids these days don't have much to do but interact with the wrong crowd."
Economic opportunity
Crime is driving home values down, but “kicking people out” isn’t the answer. Bertha from Redford stated that her neighborhood is struggling and property values are decreasing due to crime and squatters in the area. She would like the government to address this issue but doesn't want people to be “kicked out of homes and living on the streets.”
“I’m tired of losing clients.” Mack from Inkster said that he was “tired of losing clients due to gun violence and dumb mistakes causing them to go to prison.”
Leadership
“Nothing has been done.” Patricia from Cobbs Creek stated that Inkster is often forgotten in Michigan, noting that "We had the highest crime rate for a few years, and nothing has been done."
Jobs
Approximately 20 percent of the contacts raised concerns about jobs and wages.
Minimum Wage
“They’re not paying enough.” Keith, an African American man in his 60s, would like for minimum wage to go up. "Everyone is hiring, but jobs are not being filled because they are not paying enough, and the shutdown made people realize they don't need the stress."
“They’re not paying a decent wage.” An African American woman in her late 60s stated that although businesses are hiring, “they are not paying employees the decent wage and not giving them opportunities to advance.”
Caregiving
Almost 15 percent of contacts raising a policy issue of concern focused on the need for affordable childcare and an additional 25 percent focused on the need for affordable elder care.
Affordable childcare
“Any extra help…will really help.” John from Inkster stressed the need for affordable childcare, stating, "I am a young father of twins and any extra help from the government will really help.”
Affordable elder care
“It’s expensive.” Henrietta from River Rouge City stated she is concerned about affordable elder care because she is getting older and facing increased medical expenses.
Voting rights
Of the contacts that provided information on their voting rights priorities, approximately 45 percent stated that stopping state specific restrictions on voting rights was their top priority.
Awareness of Build Back Better
Approximately 60 percent of the contacts with complete survey entries were aware of the Biden Administration's Build Back Better plan.
Midterm awareness and likelihood to vote
Approximately 30 percent of contacts surveyed said they were aware of the upcoming election, and 57 percent of them said they were definitely going to vote.
