November 8th, 2016: a day that changed the lives of hundreds of people in various minority communities across the United States. As a female minority and a person of color, I face this presidency in fear of what the next four years entail. I feel helpless for myself as a United States citizen, for my family, and for the hundreds that are going to be affected by the Presidency of Donald Trump.
I am fortunate enough to be part of a city where I find myself connecting with others who understand my place in this country. New York City is my sanctuary city. However, this does not mean we are safe of the racism that is existent here in the city and from those who support Trump and his ideas.
But, with each day, we must ask ourselves what our future has yet to bring. We have to realize that there will be consequences that someone will have to face.Today, a year after the presidency I ask myself questions as to what my life will entail till this presidency is in play.
When I ask myself what my life will look till the end of the administration, I am angered by the answers that our media provides regularly. It means that groups like the Neo-Nazis can voice their opinions and create harmful situations without facing any repercussions. It means that we face a man who uses digital media without thinking of consequences that he inflict through his words on a social media platform for the whole world to see. It means as a minority I have to be scared to leave my sanctuary city. It means the Dreamers may lose their chances at an education and face deportation to countries that are not home. It means so much more, yet I stand here feeling lost and almost hopeless at what my future will allow me to do if this presidency is carried out to term.
As a young adult in college, who has faced prejudice before due to my skin color, name, and body type, I often wonder what biases lie my way now. I ask myself, will this affect the way I will enter the workforce? Does it matter that I am "American"? Will my name and gender cause me to lose an opportunity to get my dream job?
When these fears rise, as a human, our thoughts just seem even more distant. As women, will my health insurance and my right to treat my body a certain way be impacted? If my religious views as a Hindu do not support the values that are supposedly backed by the president and his party mean this will damage my right to practice?
It has been almost a year into the new presidency, and I face this fear head-on. I have seen Trump use his power to enforce things that I believe to be unjust and an utter destruction of our society. He may have campaigned and appealed to many, but in my eyes, I find a man who lost the presidency by a mere 3 million votes. His win was a rejection of the people and their voices. Trump's actions like setting up the Muslim ban and diminishing the dreamers will destroy the values that I believe create the United States.
As we proceed, I will face this presidency in solidarity with those who suffer in Trump's administration in fear. I will support them and stand with those who will face problems in the duration of his presidency. We must raise our voices, and allow our government to hear the authentic voices of the people.
