In case you missed it, President Trump tweeted something racist yesterday…again.
“So interesting to see ‘Progressive’ Democrat Congresswomen, who originally came from countries whose governments are a complete and total catastrophe, the worst, most corrupt and inept anywhere in the world (if they even have a functioning government at all), now loudly and viciously telling the people of the United States, the greatest and most powerful Nation on earth, how our government is to be run.
Why don’t they go back and help fix the totally broken and crime infested places from which they came. Then come back and show us how it is done.”
He appeared to be targeting four women of color in Congress: Democratic Reps. Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts, Rashida Tlaib of Michigan, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, and Ilhan Omar of Minnesota.
I am not surprised by Trump’s racist, xenophobic, immature tweet. It’s who he is and who he has always been. (Remember the Obama birther scandal?)
As a woman of color, I’ve been told—more times than I can count—to “go back where I came from.” I was born in New York City.
As a woman of color, I’ve been made to feel like an “other” in the very country in which I was born and raised. I’ve been called a spic. I’ve been asked, “What are you?” or asked if I’m really “black black.” I’ve been told, “Oh, I don’t see color.” (And yes, that is a racist statement.)
And as a woman of color, I’m exhausted. I’m exhausted from talking about this ignorant man-child. I’m exhausted by his lack of intelligence and class and basic human decency or compassion. I’m exhausted in my soul.
But again, not surprised.
What does surprise me (the tiniest bit—because again, I’ve been a woman of color my whole life, so racism is not a new concept for me) and continually pisses me off is that there are still people in this country who believe he’s a good man and a good president. People who sit back quietly and let him make comments like this and nod in agreement, or even worse, who try to excuse his behavior.
How much more clear does he have to be about who he is?
This morning, writer Elizabeth Gilbert addressed some of those people, namely, white American women—52 percent of whom voted for Trump. I bow in gratitude to her and her message (one that people of color have been championing for decades upon decades), and hope that everyone who reads it takes a few minutes to truly consider her questions.
“If you are a white American woman who voted for him, please look into your soul and ask yourself why it’s ok that your president acts like this. And if you are a non-racist Republican, please give me one non-racist reason why your president might have told four women of color who serve in Congress to ‘go back where they came from’?
Please give me a very solid reason why this is not a racist comment. I will not be able to bear it if white women pull this sh*t again in the next election, and vote this man into another 4 years of office because they like ‘a strong man’ who they think might protect them. Like so many ‘protective strong men’ throughout history, this one is a violent, unhinged menace. He endangers people.
Stop defending and emboldening him with your silence and collusion.”
And cheers to the three white, male, Democratic congressmen who have spoken up—clearly and boldly—in defense of their female co-workers and against Trump.
My emotionally exhausted self thanks you.
View this post on Instagram
Again. Trump has NO problem with immigrants…if they are white. He’ll marry them. His mother is one.
~
Anti-Racism: Jane Elliott educates Waylon & 8,000 Elephant Readers (& you!)
Read 20 Comments and Reply
Read 20 comments and reply