Identify the actions
Determine the tactics/actions that Black voters are willing to take to fight back against actions from the federal government that harm Black people.
Our purpose
To increase Black voter participation in the current political resistance
Over a year of research conducted between 2025 and 2026, Black Opps completed a three-phase research project to understand how to increase Black voter participation in today’s political resistance. Phase 1 focused on the economy, while Phase 2 focused on democracy. Across both phases, we conducted six national focus groups, two national polls, and two national content tests with thousands of Black people to better understand the barriers that prevent their resistance, the motivations that increase their resistance, and the actions we can mobilize them to take now to increase the likelihood that they vote later.
The coalition partners
Current Coalition Members
Our solution
Messaging that moves Black voters to act
Black Opps messaging has the power to mobilize Black voters. A Gen Z-led call to action also increased willingness to host a voter registration drive.
What Black Opps Messaging Moved
- +10More likely to boycott
- +7More likely to protest
- +10Vote likelihood, Black men
- +11Vote likelihood, younger Black voters
- +11Willing to host a registration drive
The Messaging in Action
Phase 1
Economy
The barriers
that prevent resistance
- Lack of resistance leadership/plan
- Fear of arrest or violence
- Disbelief that anything will change
The motivations
that would increase resistance
- Fighting back against racism and injustice
- Defending personal rights and families
- Defending American democracy
- Attacks on Black freedom, power, and voting rights
The actions
that we can mobilize them to take now
- Voting in state/local elections
- Encouraging friends/families to vote
- Buying from Black-owned businesses
- Boycotting companies
For Phase 1 of the research, the coalition conducted three focus groups, one national poll, and a national content test to understand Black voters’ attitudes toward the current political environment and the state of the economy. The Black Opps coalition determined the actions that Black voters were willing to take to fight back against the actions of the federal government that harm Black communities economically, and the barriers and motivations of taking those actions.
Focus Group 1: Black Registered Voters, All Genders Under 40
Focus Group 2: Black Men Registered Voters Over 40
Focus Group 3: Black Women Registered Voters Across All Age Groups
Phase 2
Democracy
The villains
that Black voters blame
- Corporations and special interests
- Donald Trump
- Congressional Republicans
The ideas
that Black voters will take action to defend
- Black freedom
- Black voting rights
- Racial justice
The resources
that Black voters need to take action
- Know Your Rights trainings
- Detailed plans and demands for community action
- Leaders with a vision
In Phase 2, the coalition conducted three more focus groups, a second national poll, and a second national content test to understand Black voters’ attitudes toward the current political environment and the state of our democracy. The Black Opps coalition determined the villains that Black voters blame for the decline of democracy, what Black voters were willing to fight for, and what resources Black voters needed to fight back against attacks on democracy that harm Black people.
Phase 3
Tracking Black Voters Through the 2026 Midterms
In Phase 3, the coalition conducted three national tracker polls and tracker focus groups to track Black voters’ attitudes and motivations to vote or not vote over time, as well as how they understand the post-election environment.
Our objectives
Black Opps Objectives
Understand barriers and motivations
Determine the barriers that prevent resistance action and the motivations that increase resistance action in the Black community.
Develop and test content
Develop and test content that mobilizes Black voters to fight back against actions from the federal government that harm Black people and prepares them to vote in 2026.
Build an activation index
Create an activation index that segments the Black community from the most activatable to the least activatable.
The Team
Black Opps Research Team
Testimonials
Interested in Supporting Black Opps?
Join the Black Opps Project working to increase Black voter participation in the current political resistance.
In the media
