Black Opps - HIT Strategies

Our Purpose

To Increase Black Voter Participation in the Current Political Resistance

Over a year of research conducted between 2025-2026, Black Opps conducted six national focus groups, two national polls, and two national content tests with thousands of Black people to understand: the barriers that prevent their resistance, the motivations that increase their resistance, and the actions that we can mobilize them to take now – to increase the likelihood that they vote later.

Our Solution

Black Opps partnered with Hued Strategies to develop AI content following the 5 Elements of Mobilization Messaging informed by this research. Black Opps messaging has the power to mobilize Black voters and made Black voters +10 points more likely to boycott and +7 points more likely to protest, and increased vote likelihood among Black men by +10 and Black younger voters by +11 points.

Our Findings

Download the Report to See Key Findings and Messaging Guidance

Download Defending Democracy Report Download Economic Justice Report

Defend Democracy

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
Helping people in their community register to vote

Focus Groups

What are some ways to resist and fight back

What are some motivators for voters to resist

What does political resistance look like to you

What are some ways to resist and fight back (2)

Defending Democracy

Focus Group Specs

As part of the year-long research, the team conducted six focus groups to understand Black voters’ attitudes toward the current political environment, the state of the economy; and the state of democracy; determine the actions that Black voters are willing to take to fight back against the actions of the federal government; 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

Click on Videos for Answers to Key Focus Group Questions

What are some ways to resist and fight back?
What are some motivators for voters to resist?
What does political resistance look like to you?

October-January-February- Defending Democracy-Under 40, Men Over 40, Women All Ages-What is Democracy

January and February Defending Democracy-Black Men Over 40 and Black Women All Ages-Who should fight for democracy

January and February Defending Democracy-Black Men Over 40 and Black Women All Ages-What is worth fighting for

October-Defending Democracy-Black Voters Under 40-Violence

Economic Justice

Focus Group Specs

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

Black Opps Objectives

Determine the tactics/actions that Black voters are willing to take to fight back against actions from the federal government that harm Black people.
Determine the barriers that prevent resistance action and the motivations that increase resistance action in the Black community.
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.
Create an activation index that segments the Black community from the most activatable to the least activatable.