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Since the Great Depression, African Americans have moved in unflinching lockstep in support of the Democratic Party. Those who don’t are likely to be “cancelled” or excommunicated; such as in the case of Kanye West, who has been heavily criticized for publicly supporting President Donald Trump. However, for all of our unwavering and unrelenting support, we continue to receive little in return.

It’s as if we are in an arranged marriage with the Democratic Party: our political allegiance is practically inherited, decided on the basis of race and the implicated societal pressures long before we are born. Unfortunately, this steadfast support has enabled the party to neglect us. Sure, during election seasons democratic candidates exclaim “Black lives matter,” tease ideas for reparations and riff about the importance of investing in minority and underserved communities. Yet, most of these issues do not rank at the top of the democratic agenda. Additionally, democratic lawmakers who actually mean well lack the political capital or skill necessary to push minority-centered bills into laws.

Whether it be the former or the latter, the result is the same: African American issues go unaddressed. Similar to a one-sided marriage, the Democratic Party consistently fails to fulfill their end of the bargain. African American voters do not want to be wooed by candidates with help from Beyoncé, LeBron James and other Black figures only to be undermined, unserved and unincluded later.

While it still holds true, the old Black adage of voting for democrats because they will do less harm than the republicans, or supporting democrats because they are the lesser of two evils, has fallen out of favor with younger generations of Black voters. African Americans care about kitchen table issues — expanding affordable health care, fortifying childcare, increasing access to college, narrowing the achievement gap, addressing income inequality, bettering public schools, etc.

While we are not a monolith, Black voters, specifically millennial Black democratic voters, feel a communal disenchantment with the Democratic Party. Black democrat voters need to be convinced that, if we show up to support our neglectful spouse, the love will be reciprocated. Most Black voters aren’t deciding if they are going to vote for a republican or a democrat. Many African Americans believe that the Republican Party has consistently shown not only that it could care less about minority issues, but that its agenda is actively antagonistic to our struggles. This is evidenced by the rhetoric of its leaders and complacency of the members. As a result, many Black voters are contemplating whether they are going to vote democrat or just stay home “because things aren’t going to change either way.” Unfortunately, unbeknownst to many voters, by not voting they are effectively casting republican votes, as evidenced by the 2016 presidential election.

This piece may sound as if it were written by an antagonist to the Democratic Party, or at least someone with a disdain for them. However, this could not be further from the truth. I am a lifelong supporter of the Democratic Party, having even interned in the office of a democratic congressmen during college. However, I am a millennial minority from the midwest — the very demographic the party needs to encourage to vote if it hopes to win the 2020 election. Hillary Clinton lost the state of Michigan by a few thousand votes, votes which could have easily come from fellow Detroiters if they were excited or energized. The same can be said for Pennsylvania, which was also lost by a narrow margin.

Democratic leaders hoping to win over Black voters in 2020 need to show that even though the marriage has been a little rocky, they are willing to change and shower us with the support and attention we deserve. Candidates need to clearly articulate their understanding of the specific issues minority voters are facing and present well-developed plans that would effectively address these issues if the candidate is granted power. Or, at the very least, do a better job explaining how the general policies the candidate plans to enact will benefit minorities in America. (We want numbers, and facts.)

Whichever route the candidates choose, they need to do so quickly and act as if their very political survival depends on it — because honestly, it does.