Since November 9th, I haven't spent too much time thinking about the upcoming inauguration and the Trump Era. It's mostly been contained to whatever the latest headlines are or the 15-minute conversations I can handle before getting flustered. Nationally, we've been thinking about life in his world since his campaign began, and to be quite honest, I'm tired and saddened to think about it further. Going through a stressful academic and personal semester, I could only manage worrying about my day to day - not the next four years.
But now I've found myself with some time to think.
I am a minority in obvious and indiscernible ways. Lately, I've been thinking about what it means to be part of minority communities in the midst of this uncertainty and tension.
As a woman, this Trump presidency means fear. I'm seeing posts about Plan B and Ella having a shelf life that will last his presidency, in response to planned de-funding of Planned Parenthood and the general direction this new presidency will be moving, regarding reproductive rights and access to various female health services and products. As a woman who is not sexually active and barely utilizes any reproductive services, I'm considering just buying these products to prepare myself. As if I'm going into battle or holing up in a bunker. There is fear for survivors of violence, as the law and public discourse seem to protect or reward abuser and their condoners. Progress for women's rights and place in the workforce and society will be greatly challenged.
As a person of color, this presidency means constantly re-evaluating what safety and representation means. What does it mean to be Black in 2017 America? What does it mean to identify as a child of African immigrants who endured a struggle to become citizens and thrive in the middle class? A struggle that, unfortunately, continues for immigrants over 30 years later as we wonder whether the middle class will continue to exist. Do I keep my cool, deny my emotions and opinions, so I don't look like the angered, careless, violent, bottom feeder that is being portrayed of dissatisfied people of color? Do I fight for some sort of middle ground unification or join the outliers and storm the castle?
I could go on and on about what this presidency could mean for me as a recent college undergraduate, a queer person, a non-republican in a republican period, a 'millennial', a non-religious individual, and other identifiers that may make me a minority in my community, my state, my academic circle, my family, and my country. But they would all probably fall around fear. Nothing feels secure, and as a minority, surety in advocacy and support for marginalized groups seems like collateral in this election.
In spite of these fears (which have been here before Trump), I have hope that our system is able to condemn and correct itself, for the people and by the people. But I won't leave everything up to that hope. This Trump Era means looking at my 'neighbors' both on the internet and physically, and asking myself, what do they stand for? What are they willing to stand for? What are they willing to sit for? This Trump Era also means evaluating who I am and how I define myself, and how I want to operate with the perceived and actual threats to myself and others. Knowing who we are and how we fit in this system is key to reshaping it for ourselves.
I haven't thought it all out; it's just a start. But it's not a Trump world - it's our world, and the world I want to live in doesn't have to be like this. As we prepare for Trump to be sworn in, I won't think about what this era will mean under him, instead, I'll think of what I want it to mean under us, and how I can help others realize and achieve that on a micro level.
As a minority, I'm not going to fight Trump, but I will fight the ideologies that underline the direction things are going. I will challenge the conversations, suggestions, and jokes. I will be my brother's keeper and I will try to protect and shine a light on the things we need.
Being a minority in this Trump Era means working to make it our own.
