TATYANA HOPKINS, Howard University News Service Published: 22 July 2016 Shy Drayton, 21, said she will follow Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump throughout the remainder of his campaign. Drayton, however, is not a Trump supporter. Instead, she is one of the Black street vendors sprinkled among the scores temporary merchants flooding downtown Cleveland streets for the opportunity to sell novelty items to thousands of visitors at the Republican National Convention (RNC) in Cleveland.
Some, surprisingly, are Trump supporters.
Others, like Drayton, have different motives for being here.
“I don’t agree with his policies,” she said. “I’m out here for a purpose — to pay my bills. It’s easy to separate business from personal.”
RNC Black Vendors
Black merchants sell Trump merchandise outside the Republican National Convention. Photos by Milton Brown.
Black merchants sell Trump merchandise outside the Republican National Convention. Photos by Milton Brown.
Black merchants sell Trump merchandise outside the Republican National Convention. Photos by Milton Brown.
Black merchants sell Trump merchandise outside the Republican National Convention. Photos by Milton Brown.
Black merchants sell Trump merchandise outside the Republican National Convention. Photos by Milton Brown.
Black merchants sell Trump merchandise outside the Republican National Convention. Photos by Milton Brown.
Black merchants sell Trump merchandise outside the Republican National Convention. Photos by Milton Brown.
Black merchants sell Trump merchandise outside the Republican National Convention. Photos by Milton Brown.
Black merchants sell Trump merchandise outside the Republican National Convention. Photos by Milton Brown.
Black merchants sell Trump merchandise outside the Republican National Convention. Photos by Milton Brown.
Black merchants sell Trump merchandise outside the Republican National Convention. Photos by Milton Brown.
Black merchants sell Trump merchandise outside the Republican National Convention. Photos by Milton Brown.
Black merchants sell Trump merchandise outside the Republican National Convention. Photos by Milton Brown.
Black merchants sell Trump merchandise outside the Republican National Convention. Photos by Milton Brown.
Black merchants sell Trump merchandise outside the Republican National Convention. Photos by Milton Brown.
Black merchants sell Trump merchandise outside the Republican National Convention. Photos by Milton Brown.
Black merchants sell Trump merchandise outside the Republican National Convention. Photos by Milton Brown.
Black merchants sell Trump merchandise outside the Republican National Convention. Photos by Milton Brown.
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