Donald Trump's African-American Supporters Are Unapologetic

"It is time for African-Americans to wake up," says one Trump enthusiast.

ByABC News
August 21, 2016, 1:47 AM

— -- Donald Trump's recent overtures to African-Americans has been met with skepticism by many voters.

After all, as ABC News previously reported, the Republican presidential nominee has declined invitations to speak at the NAACP, the Urban League and the recent National Association of Black Journalists/National Association of Hispanic Journalists convention. Plus, the rallies where he made those overtures were in cities and towns that are overwhelmingly white.

"If African-American voters give Donald Trump a chance by giving me their vote, the result for them will be amazing," he said at a rally in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Thursday.

The following day, he proclaimed at a rally in Dimondale, Michigan, "At the end of four years, I guarantee you, I will get over 95 percent of the African-American vote. I promise you."

And at rally in Fredericksburg, Virginia, on Saturday, he said, "I want our party to be the home of the African-American voter once again."

Even though many voters are skeptical of his comments, some African-Americans welcome his words and are supporting his candidacy.

"It is time to wake up, African-Americans. Wake up," Trump supporter Carl Nichols, who is African-American, told ABC News at the rally in Fredericksburg. "Life in Detroit, where I am from, looks like a war zone, because of the Democrats who have been there for 50 years. It's a big mess. Let's give the man a chance. You have tried out [Barack] Obama, but it didn't work. I told you all that — it wasn't going to work. You had all the rest of these crazy folks, and it's time. It's time to see what is going to happen."

Nichols continued, "I believe that if we give Mr. Trump a chance, I believe that things in Michigan are going to change. It is time for the African-Americans to wake up, read for yourselves, stop listening to CNN and some of the other crazy news channels. Do research yourself and stop listening to your buddies who are trying to keep you in bondage. I thank God for Mr. Trump, and we are going to win this thing."

Another African-American supporter at the rally, who told ABC News her first name is Jacqueline, said of Trump's claim that he can fix issues plaguing the black community, "I believe he can do a better job than Hillary [Clinton] can."

Jacqueline added that African-Americans have been essentially conditioned to vote for Democrats. "It's been so ingrained in us what we have been doing these past few years, and just like he said last night, it hasn't worked. But we're among those who are listening and want to try something new, so we are excited."

And Marquetta Colbert, another African-American supporter at the rally, agreed that Trump could solve problems plaguing some black communities. "I believe he is a guy who does what he says he is going to do," she said.

And Trump's message to African-American voters may speak to other minorities. Ray Flores, a Hispanic Trump supporter at Saturday's rally, said of the presidential hopeful's message, "I think it should resonate not only with African-American voters but with Hispanic voters as well."

He added, "I think it is bold, and I think it is accurate. I see people waking up, regardless of what skin color, what ethnicity we are. We are Americans. It's time to stop the divisiveness that the Obama administration has perpetuated, and Hillary Clinton is only going to take us further down the road into despair."

ABC News' Maddie James contributed to this report.