'The Civil Rights Act has led to discrimination and should be reformed' says US pro-Trump black official

Gilchrist is the Chairman and CEO of the South Carolina African American Chamber of Commerce as well as a leading voice on national public policy initiatives which include; educational reform, alternative energy sources, and financial and economic security for low-wealth communities.

He spoke to Steven Edginton on GBN America and explained that he thinks the Civil Rights Act needs a shake-up.

He said: "First of all, I applaud President Trump for appointing me to the United States Commission on Civil Rights. One of the reasons I was very interested in that particular post was the very conversation that we're having about diversity, equity and inclusion.

"And how that in some ways discrimination against other Americans in the United States has always been an issue. As a civil rights commissioner, I believe that every American in the United States is entitled to civil rights.

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"That includes our white colleagues, our Hispanic colleagues, our agents, colleagues, and anybody else.

"So, yes, in some ways, it certainly can be misconstrued as being something that it's not in many cases. I've always been a huge supporter of saying that we have to look at programs like affirmative action programs and other programs that in some ways segregate more than they help in the American system.

"So President Trump was very intentional about that when he appointed me to the United States Civil Rights Commission. And I'm looking forward to continuing to champion that message."

He later added: "In 2024, there are lots of conversations about whether or not we have reached a point in America of whether or not we even need a civil rights Act. There have been a lot of conversations about that."

Edgington asked him: "What do you think?"

He said: "Well, I think that it certainly needs to have some reforms. There's no question about that. I think when I see things like what policy has done to exacerbate, some of the more, oh gosh, how would I describe this?

"More of the social issues that in many ways have been more detrimental to the act than anything, that has caused me great concern.

"In many ways when we look at things like affirmative action and some of those older policies that quite frankly, may not be relevant today."

Affirmative action in the Civil Rights movement means taking steps to end discrimination, to prevent its recurrence, and to create new opportunities that were previously denied to minorities and women.

The official later added: "I've often said particularly in high education, for example, that I think the Civil Rights Act has done more to cause discrimination than it has to create opportunities for people, particularly in where we are today."