At a Minneapolis brunch, hundreds of Black women ‘choose joy’ despite Trump win
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After learning the results of the presidential election, Sheletta Brundidge organized a brunch for Black women over the course of just days.
“I saw so much hurt and heartache and heartbreak from Black women. I thought, ‘I have to do something to bring us together, to celebrate who we are, to celebrate Kamala Harris’ candidacy,’” she said.
Brundidge does a little of everything: she raises awareness around autism, rallies support for Black businesses and runs a multimedia podcast and production company called Sheletta Makes Me Laugh. She is a member of the Minneapolis Club so she reserved space there and started sending invites.
“I pretty much got on social media and told every Black woman, we are going to choose joy. We are going to be happy. We’re not going to let anybody see us down. We’re not going to be defeated. We’re going to be determined,” Brundidge said.
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Of course, Black women are not a monolith. Early turnout data indicates President-elect Donald Trump received a slightly higher share of Black women’s votes this election compared to last: 10 percent in 2024 vs. 6 percent in 2020. But nine out of ten Black women voted for Harris, marking the strongest support for the Democratic candidate of any group sorted by race and gender.
“If you look at the history of this country and you study the election results in the past, this is a space that has been full of supremacy and male dominated,” said Jessica Winnie, a teacher and creative. She was one of roughly 200 Black women who attended the brunch on Saturday morning.
“I’m not surprised at the results. Disgusted probably would be a better word, but not surprised,” she continued. “I also think, you know, he was able to beat a white woman. So why would we have even thought that a Black woman could come and be elected?”
The brunch had no agenda besides mimosas and mingling. A DJ played familiar jams as people did yoga and played cards. In other rooms, local Black women entrepreneurs led workshops on decorating cupcakes and making body scrubs.
“I feel a lot better,” said Andrena Seawood, an activist and former church leader, with a big grin.
Seawood was a poll judge on Election Day in a Twin Cities suburb that heavily favored Trump. She said it was challenging: voters refused to sign required oaths or take ballots from her, instead turning to her white colleagues for help. She said some also made sure to tell her they were voting for Trump, though it’s prohibited for election judges to even ask.
“I was supposed to work till eight that night, and I couldn’t do it. I didn’t realize how much stress I was under, trying to keep my composure, trying to be perfect in my role, trying to treat everybody with grace. And I was under attack.”
Still, Seawood is determined to continue working polls in the future — and showing up for her neighbors.
“This as a moment in time where we have to do what’s always worked, which is work with small groups of passionate people to make change,” she said.
“That means you find like-minded people who want to do good things and help to strengthen the community. You give your all to that; you don’t give your all to worrying about all the noise around you. You, every day, wake up to make America better with the power you have, the resources you have, and the time you have. That’s the real answer to me.”
