As I sat down on my couch on Tuesday, November 8th, and watched this election, all that came to my mind was, "I hope we don't move backwards as a country." I thought to myself that America would make the right choice. I thought America had morals but clearly I was wrong. I had faith that Hillary Clinton would become our president but look at where we are. I am not a fan of Hillary Clinton but I would side with her before I would with Trump. Donald Trump is not fit to rule this country, in my eyes. He is not my president. He is a misogynistic, sexist, racist, anti Muslim, against women's rights, accused of multiple counts of rape, has been caught saying, "grab her by the pu$$y," a man who has said, "I'm gonna bomb the $hit out of them," I mean the list goes on and on. Of all the things that we have caught this man saying and doing on the record, we still seem to turn a blind eye and say he is right for this country.
The main argument I have heard from Trump supporters is that, "he says things like it is." Let's break this down. So you're telling me that his racist comments and racialization of Black and Latino people is okay? You are telling me that it's okay for him to break up families with mass deportation? It's okay to $hit on Muslims, the LGBT community, Black people, women and immigrants? Then these same supporters can go on to say, "He's a successful businessman." Is he really a successful businessman? According to NBC News Trump has claimed bankruptcy six times... Six times! But you can still stand in front of my face and tell me he is a good businessman? How, sway?
As a black woman born in a single parent, middle class home, I feel like this election was a slap in the face. This election showed America's true colors. It showed me that racism is still alive and well even though I knew that since the day I was born. It has showed me that people think sexual assault is okay. It has showed me that white privilege will most definitely sky rocket under Trump. This election has showed me that institutional racism will be bigger and better than ever. Oh and our economy... Our poor economy. The middle class will suffer once again as the rich get richer and the poor get poorer. I'm pretty sure the environment is screwed as well because remember, Trump thinks global warming is something created by the Chinese.
When I think about how my life will personally change as a woman of color, I am deeply saddened. It's already bad enough that I will never be paid the same as a white woman for the same work, or the same as a man but now I have to worry about being called a ni&ger by the white man? I am not saying that the whole white race is racist but people need to realize that there are still white people out there that believe that black people are not humans. They see us as monsters and criminals and useless to society. The KKK is still alive and well and guess what? They voted for Donald Trump.
I am now forced to face the fact that I might not come home at the end of the day. I could be shot down by the police for having a broken tail light (#SayHerName), or lynched just for being black. I worry about my black male friends because they are more at risk of losing their lives than I am. I shouldn't have to worry about them. I shouldn't have to worry about my friends being shot down by the police or beaten to death. We have already seen hate crimes committed during this election season. Who's to say that these hate crimes won't progress into something bigger? We are not moving forward as a country. We are moving backwards. We are moving back to a divided nation, back to segregation, back to justified racism, back to religious discrimination, back to the disrespect of women, back to racialized hate. I mean the list goes on and on. This is not a positive moment in American History. This is a tragedy. And until you can set foot in my shoes as an educated woman of color raised in a racist society, don't tell me how to feel.
