My opinion is he is able to connect but 2 issues are stopping black voters from supporting him:

1. He is gay - Black voters in general, especially in the South are more religious than whites. They just cannot get over this hump (no pun)
2. His white crowd problem - Buttigieg has a history of surrounding himself with white appointees, friends, officials, campaign staff etc. His firing of the only black police superintendent in South Bend did not help.

Some of the criticism is true, he is trying and he can connect with black voters but the black voters just throw up walls at him based on deep rooted opinions and stereotypes.

Believing that the American voters are ready to vote in a candidate who is gay, Mormon, Jewish, Hindu, or atheist is living in a la la land. I don't understand why smart politicians and their advisors cannot be pragmatic. Being bold is one thing and being naive is just suicidal in politics.