If you have not heard about the political circus that has been the 2016 Election in the United States of America, where have you been? Yes, that sentence is present tense because we are still unsure what will happen. We have a President Elect, Donald Trump, but votes had to be re-counted, Trump is facing court cases as well as having numerous conflicts of interest. Oh and did I mention the investigation in to Russian tampering/hacking of our election?
However, despite the seemingly dismal outlook our country faces with the aforementioned problems, I want to talk about where I stand- where people like me stand. That’s right, I am a black woman- black AND female. Two things that this most recent election has reminded the world, being black is thought and taught to be the ‘lowest form of human existence’ so much so that a movement has to remind everyone that Black Lives Matter; and that women are second class citizens whose bodies are not their own, they are objects to touch, play with and grope. The world, decidedly with its own set of problems, has been laughing at us to scorn. So what now?
Let’s tackle being black and living in the United States of America. Bold, I know. During Donald Trump’s campaign he made a mockery of common sense and good moral values. Actually, he spoke the language his publicist and researchers told him to speak- to put it plainly- he spoke to racist and prejudiced white America. He said the things “many were thinking but did not say” or felt stifled to say. Making America Great Again means one undeniable thing, removing, oppressing and controlling Muslims, Hispanics (not from Europe), Afro-descendant black people, and others that are considered “minority” once again. This is NOT how we make America Great (we can speak on that topic another time).
A Trump one liner struck a chord with many black people, “What do you have to lose?” That question was an insult veiled as an attempt to help. Read the quote from Washington Post below:
"Our government has totally failed our African American friends, our Hispanic friends and the people of our country. Period," Trump said in Akron, Ohio, straying from the prepared remarks the campaign provided to reporters. "The Democrats have failed completely in the inner cities. For those hurting the most who have been failed and failed by their politician — year after year, failure after failure, worse numbers after worse numbers. Poverty. Rejection. Horrible education. No housing, no homes, no ownership. Crime at levels that nobody has seen. You can go to war zones in countries that we are fighting and it's safer than living in some of our inner cities that are run by the Democrats. And I ask you this, I ask you this — crime, all of the problems — to the African Americans, who I employ so many, so many people, to the Hispanics, tremendous people: What the hell do you have to lose? Give me a chance. I'll straighten it out. I'll straighten it out. What do you have to lose?"
His assumption that only black and Hispanic people live in the inner cities, commit crime and are impoverished was not only inaccurate but blatantly stereotypical. This made me boil because in some way no matter the success we as black people have we are never given the credit deserved- key example would be the current President of the United States of America, Barack H. Obama, a man sharply criticized and disrespected by media, American citizens and formerly by the now President Elect Donald Trump. Why is it that no matter what we do to advance civilization we are continually relegated to antiquated and hypocritical notions and nonsensical beliefs?
Our President Elect believes that people like me, black people, have already lost so we have no other option than to surrender and believe that he is best for us because he too, employs us. I wonder, does he like many of his supporters who are ignorant of history and factual statistics, believe that black people and Hispanics should simply be happy only serving others as nannies, cooks, maintenance or as factory workers? Does he not believe that we are capable of much more than he could fathom should we not be barred underhandedly and passive aggressively? Or what I believe to be true, he like his proponents do in fact believe we are brilliant and capable of bringing the much needed competition a country needs to thrive. I am finding it hard to disprove the latter. Please do not misunderstand my earlier statements on work such as maintenance, cooking or serving others- these are noble- my problem lies within in the covert assumption that others are entitled to have certain groups of people placed and kept in these positions with no other options and those people should just be happy to have a job.
Since the election results have come in there has been a visible increase in hatred toward blacks, Hispanics and Muslims, I am sure there are more groups of people that I have missed- please add them to the comment section. I have witnessed people being cursed at and told to go back to their country, I have read stories of Muslims being attacked and having their head coverings pulled off. The scariest that I have heard was a white male telling a black female that since Trump “won” they no longer have to put up with “you niggers” (it pained me to type that word) and that he should shoot her on the spot. If the problem with this is not seen, then you are part of the problem.
Earlier I said I was a woman, I hope you did not forget already. The fact that our President Elect has boldly said that he could grab a woman by her “pussy” (this may be my most explicit post) and get away with it because he is a star- is absolutely disgusting! Yes, he said he apologized and his apologists only speak of the remarks as “locker room talk”. Here’s the thing, locker room talk is one thing but proudly speaking of sexual assault and assault-like behavior is the problem. It is not a matter of word usage, it is the matter of the action! It baffles my mind that women have voted for him but that is another post altogether, I digress. As a woman, it is important to know that my rights, life and body are protected and not for the benefit of others but for the benefit of my self. How much clearer can that be? How can your president lead you and champion issues facing a half of his constituents when he does not care or value you the same as himself? He cannot.
So this brings me to my last question of the moment, what lies ahead? Let me hear from you.
