“Trump has his finger on the button ready to blow our whole sh*t up.” – Unknown
No one could have predicted this presidency. The undiagnosed narcissism, social media obsession, the high school banter between foreign countries, brooding criminal investigations, the rush to judgment and jumbled order of priorities, the lack of levelheadedness, responsibility, tact, composure — we haven’t seen anything like it.
But there is hope.
It’s been nine months since the Trump presidency commenced and we have witnessed a national shift. From the smooth sailing day to day operations of the Obama presidency, when it comes to running a country, we have found there are dangers in uprooting traditionalism precedented by former presidents who were careful not to rock the boat and keep it afloat. Trump has shaken up the status quo with proposals and policies that are combative and unamerican. When have we seen such vigor and passion in values so against what America stands for?
There have been spikes in hate crimes on a national and local level, and emboldened white supremacists running the streets with Trump’s cosign, yet these steadfast tactics are showing a reverse effect: white accountability.
For once, white Americans must converse among themselves. The GOP has dissension within their party on principles with polarizing views. Dinner and kitchen table discussions have ignited because of the blatant bigotry displayed by the Trump administration. It has sparked more in-depth conversations about race relations where once nonexistent and even moreso than the previous presidency. It has challenged the prerequisites of elementary conversations of racism to those of advanced thinking:
“I don’t see color.”“I’m not racist; I have black friends.”“I didn’t know that was offensive.”“It’s not all of us.”“We weren’t slave owners our ancestors were.”
Excuses no longer fly. White Americans are now tasked with meeting and exceeding these prerequisites. They can no longer separate themselves from the pack. The message has finally been received: white people are responsible for eradicating racism, not those who
suffer from it. They must bridge the divide and have the difficult roundtable conversations with their loved ones; the same table we once sat, in company with our kin, extending an open invitation that was rarely accepted. We have far surpassed the false bouts of victimhood and comfort that white Americans are used to. The Trump presidency is highlighting the importance of accountability on all fronts. Good things can come from chaos.
Racism has reared its ugly head.
Before change happens, it’s gotta get ugly. America, this — Trump — is your ugly.
And for those on the receiving end, we find brewing a sacred rage — fury and pain that finds and serves purpose. And so, we build…and while building we gain allies of all colors and creeds, who believe in our humanity and reasons we fight.
Unity.
In protest, we, its citizens, have put America first. There has been a united front in preserving American patriotism. We are redefining and readjusting American values once grounded in flawed rhetoric to be more inclusive, and colorful – a spectrum more reflective of our nation.
Many of us don’t have a place in Trump’s America. Our seats have been removed, names taken down; we have been told we don’t belong. The American promise of equality, inclusivity, and opportunity has been rescinded. But we are Americans nonetheless.
We have established that silence is injustice too. No longer a sign of neutrality, silence is a choice, and it is deafening. We are in the time that we must choose the right side of history — now is the time we’ve
read about in history books. We have been given an opportunity to fix what was broken, revive and redefine American ideals and resist those who live with ancient, displaced beliefs that threaten our nation.
Although the days seem dim and the road ahead seems long, there lies hope in post-Trump.
We, Americans are the anchor of this country. We will not let it fall. Through destruction and demise, we will uphold, redeem and restore our nation to its great stature.