The day after the election results, I decided to find out different Charlestonians’ opinions of the election outcome. I interviewed people I know, friends of people I know and complete strangers I met on the street.
Here are the people I interviewed along with their stories. Hopefully, this enlightens people to the differing opinions of the diverse Charleston community.
William
Did you vote? "No."
How did you react when you first heard that Donald Trump won the election? "Doomed. I thought that we are doomed...we are doomed.
Do you think this outcome will change our country? "Most definitely. People say it ain 't gonna happen...but anyone who isn't rich, privileged or powerful, they gonna basically be discarded, off, go to prison. We're not desirable--we're inferior."
Charlie
Did you vote? No, but I wanted to."
How did you react when you first heard that Donald Trump won the election? "I decided I wanted to move to Italy, or at least out of the country, because this country's going to crap. I just know it. Trump is not going to be a good president."
Do you think this outcome will change our country, and if so, how? Well, Trump and Hillary are pretty much the same thing; they're just figureheads...to...the Senate and the Congress and all them--they're passing laws...I feel like minimum wage might go down, or something like that, along those lines. Our country is going to decline because Trump is a rich man already, so he's going to be out there for the rich people and not for us middle class and poor folks."
Memo, Artist
Terry
Did you vote? "No."
How did you react when you first heard that Donald Trump won the election? "I was told Donald Trump was supposed to help all the homeless people, so I'm hoping that is true because Obama ain't done nothing..."
Do you think this outcome will change our country, and if so, how? "In my opinion, no, because these presidents are liars. He says he's going to do things--we'll see how it goes!"
Tyson and Noah, CofC Students
Tyson:
Did you vote? "I tried to vote- twice. I voted at the wrong place...I was going to vote for Hillary or Gary."
How did you react when you first heard that Donald Trump won the election? "I first found out in the middle of the night. I woke up and checked Twitter and went back to sleep."
Do you think this outcome will change our country, and if so, how? "Yeah. I'm also scared about climate change because he doesn't acknowledge that.
Noah:
How did you react when you first heard that Donald Trump won the election? "Honestly, I'm gonna say I might not have the typical black person perspective, because I was like, if Trump wins, that's so American s**t, yo! He's a boss-a** dude, yo. He's an a*****e."
Who did you vote for? "For me, [I would have voted for] Hillary, because she said she liked black guys. That's probably why she didn't get elected because she said that."
Do you think this outcome will change our country, and if so, how? "Yeah, I don't know how, though, it could be for the better or the worse. He knows money, though!"
Anonymous, Female, Age 20, Junior At CofC
Did you vote? "I did vote. I voted for Hillary Clinton."
How did you react when you first heard that Donald Trump won the election? "It was 4:30 in the morning, so I kinda rolled over and stared at the ceiling and didn't sleep for the rest of the night."
Do you think this outcome will change our country, and if so, how? "Oh, yeah. I think we're headed towards a conservative era, definitely getting away from climate change and back towards focusing on big companies making all their money. It's kind of shocking that there are that many crazy people...who would vote for him, based on things that he's said, and that are people who say, you know he said the wrong things but I'm still gonna vote for him because I don't like her...or he's a Republican.
Leon, Vietnam Veteran
Did you vote? "Yeah I voted--sort of."
How did you react when you first heard that Donald Trump won the election? "I was happy, because I was saying all along that he'd make a fine president. He's not as bad as people portray him to be, anyway."
Do you think this outcome will change our country, and if so, how? "Well, I think, in some ways, yes. Congress controls the White House. He's a billionaire, first and foremost, so he might could help with the economy."
Jenny, CofC Student
Did you vote? "Yes, Hillary."
How did you react when you first heard that Donald Trump won the election? "I was devastated. I was honestly completely shocked by how many people voted for Donald Trump. He wasn't even that good at leading Celebrity Apprentice, so I was not really confident in his ability to lead a country, but I guess a lot of people were."
Do you think this outcome will change our country, and if so, how? "Yes...in the first hundred days he says he's basically going to flip the country on its side...I think it's already taken its toll on America, especially with all the anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, just everything, all of the riots. Things aren't looking good, and he's only been president-elect for two days. I'm scared to see what's gonna happen in four years.
