Make no mistake about it, democracy is top of mind for Black voters.
America has an origin story founded in the nation’s original sin, slavery. Yet, with all the pain and persecution people have and continue to bear over the 248 years that America has been America, democracy is the element that we hold to. Democracy is our society’s life force for function. It is the foundational thing that connects all Americans. Our nation has made incredible progress. To see a Republican Party, led by Donald, actively trying to take democracy away, causes a visceral reaction – it encourages us to vote.
We don’t want nor welcome a Donald Trump MAGA master, as he turns the clock back on rights our ancestors died for. Donald can keep his dictator fantasy in his mind or in the secret Mar-a-Lago room the FBI forgot to search.
Unlike those in the MAGA cult, who romanticize “strongmen” the last thing Black people want is a “strongman” telling us what to do and how to do it. Been there, done that…fuck that.
Donald won’t win Black votes with a mug shot, gold sneakers, indictments, Tim Scott, a rapper, or any other Black person who has decided to be his prop for the Presidency. Donald is pushing his wish, that Black people won’t vote because he knows the majority of Black people won’t vote for him.
Not everyone has the privilege of not being impacted by not voting out of protest because a candidate does not give us every single thing we want. Some of us don’t have the color or cash to shield us in the event of democracy taking a nose dive in America. Some of us have to be practical and pragmatic with our patriotic duty. Not voting is not an option.
Black people have lived an autocratic history of our own in America. Generations of Black people have lived the devastation of having no democracy in a system where every institution, from the courts to Congress viewed Black people as property, then after long fought progress, second class citizens. And yes, we are grateful for every piece of progress. No element of progress is taken for granted.
Black people will turn out to vote. The question that must be answered is, will we be allowed to vote? The Republican Party’s refusal to respect “one person, one vote” was enhanced by a Republican Supreme Court ruling that gutted voting rights and has since been abetted by nation wide Republican led lawsuits aimed at removing Black people from voter rolls. Donald and his Republican Party, fear Black people with a book, brains, or a ballot.
Voter intimidation is a reality for Black voters, not just a painful lesson from long ago.
The main cackling cry of Republicans is: Lincoln was a Republican. True. However, clubs change according to who is in charge of the club. And now, Donald is in charge of the Republican Party, while trying to elude jail time and judgements. Donald, the Republican standard bearer, has low standards, look no further than the Republican National Committee, which is getting a MAGA makeover.
Of course Black people are not a monolithic group – we can join the political club of our choice…if you want to be a Republican, be one. Go ahead, donate to the RNC, Donald has legal bills to pay and bronzer to buy.
From the electoral college to RNC election integrity – the goal is to keep Black people from voting and there is no integrity in that. Voting is one of the few equalizers we have in the face of unmitigated power.
Trump for President? Nah. Been there. Done that. Fuck that.