WTH? My Reaction to Election 2016
It's 2am, I can't sleep. I just finished texting with a friend.
I'm confused and awestruck. To quote the great poet, Kanye West..."I'm so appalled!" This makes no sense. I cannot believe Donald Trump has 266 of the 270 electoral votes need to win the election.
Right now, I'm in a state of anxiety and fear. I don't want to see Muslims persecuted or Mexicans treated as scapegoats. And I don't want to see any person of color marginalized.
My fear is that Trump will emboldened racists. Scratch that, he has emboldened racists. I mean the KKK endorsed him. This is the same hate group that lynched blacks, and killed whites that supported the civil rights movement. They vehemently oppose otherness. How are we to cope from this point on?
I don't know.
I just don't know.
I learned a lot tonight about my Facebook friends, the country and the electoral process. But I also have tons of thoughts, questions, fears and anxieties swirling in my head.
1. Voters need to be more aware of national politics. Republican victories in Georgia and North Carolina shouldn't surprise anyone. Every decent media outlet has been reporting on voter suppression tactics in these states. Republicans employed redistricting tactics and wiping minority voters from voter rolls to ensure an electorate that would vote in its favor.
My Facebook rant post election to uniformed voters.
2. Racism, xenophobia and misogyny can't be swept back under the rug. It's been uprooted for all of us to see. Many women are afraid of what a Trump presidency will mean for their reproductive rights, healthcare and more.
3. Don't tell me to get over it. Yes politics isn't my life but being black is my reality, one I cannot change. Therefore, I will pay close attention to how the policies implemented by this administration will affect people of color. Rudy Guiliani is someone I dislike politically and my biggest concern is he will have a role in the justice department. Would he bring back stop and frisk? That's scary!
4. Clearly, our nation is divided. It remains to be seen if a Trump presidency will build coalitions with all groups. Will he truly govern all people?
5. Republicans will control all branches of government. Yes, all! Because once President elect Trump appoints a Supreme Court Justice, the country will officially represent Republican politics and ideology.
6. Third party candidates need more support. So many Americans complained about picking between the lesser of two evils, but never truly gave a third party candidate serious consideration.
I ask that everyone be vigilant. Don't let politics consume you but pay attention to what happens from this point on. With the deck stacked in his favor, Trump should be able to accomplish his proposed policies. Will manufacturing jobs return? Will he build the wall? Will he proceed with the extreme vetting of Muslims?
I'm not happy about this outcome. In an ideal world, Hilary Clinton or Jill Stein would be President. Or even Bernie Sanders. But these are cards we've been dealt, now we must keep a close eye on what's to come.
Photo credit: Death to Stock Photo
