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Black voters could prove pivotal in the US presidential election in November and an increasing number are choosing to support Donald Trump.

Back in the 1980s, Donald Trump emerged as an icon for Black America. The brash, playboy billionaire symbolised the wealth and power many African-Americans could only dream of, and over the decades his name became a lyrical motif in hundreds of rap songs from emcees who wanted to be just like him.

But that relationship soured pretty quickly once Mr Trump entered the White House in 2017, not least because of what many saw as an insensitive response to the death of George Floyd, and his dismissal of the Black Lives Matter movement. The rap stars who once lauded him, now publicly loathed him. It was a massive fall off.

But slowly Donald Trump has re-established his affinity among black Americans – particularly among black men.

The Ö÷²¥´óÐã’s North America correspondent, Nomia Iqbal, meets some of Donald Trump’s black supporters - including Ron J Spike, who describes himself as a conservative hip hop artist and is part of Project 21, which promotes the views of right-wing African-Americans.

She hears why an increasing number of black voters are spurning the Democratic party in favour of the Republicans, and reveals how their support in key swing states could prove decisive in determining whether Mr Trump returns to the White House.

Presenter: Nomia Iqbal
Producer: Beth McLeod
Production coordinator: Gemma Ashman
Sound Engineer: Sarah Hockley
Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith

Music includes:

Chains Off Me by Ron J Spike
2024 by Loza Alexander

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