Black People: You Can't Defeat Trump Thinking Like Trump

I really wanted to use this blog entry to speak on something that I feel is really important. 

Many of us are deeply concerned and extremely upset with the actions of the Trump administration. Things such as Trump's immigration ban, the completely unnecessary crisis with Mexico over his nonsensical wall, the imminent repeal of the ACA, and so many other issues has us all deeply troubled.  Indeed these are extremely troubling times.

But I want to speak to my sisters and brothers for a minute.  How some of us are reacting to these issues is almost as troubling as the issues themselves.  I know some of us are afraid.  I know some of us don't know what to do.  That's fine.  It's OK to be afraid.  It's understandable if you are confused.  But what is definitely NOT OK is to yield to Trump's bigotry and racism.  It's not OK to capitulate under the guise of negotiation.  It's not OK to engage in the same xenophobia and bigoted behavior that's being used against us.  It's completely counterproductive and it aids our enemies and deepens the crisis we find ourselves in.

For example, I've read and heard brothers and sisters support building a wall.  I've read excuses that range from "Immigrants are taking jobs away from Black people" to "What have the Mexican people done for us?".  I've read similar excuses from sisters and brothers who support Trump's immigration ban.  I've heard people say "I'm not a Muslim, it doesn't affect me".  It's incredibly short sighted and it highlights just how deeply entrenched white supremacy is in the Black mind.  I've even seen comments on immigration extend to Africa and our African sisters and brothers. It is extremely anti-Black and it upsets me greatly.

First of all, everything your enemy does affects you.  The weapons being used against Muslims, Mexicans, and anyone who isn't a white Anglo-Saxon Christian will be used against you.  Ignoring your enemy until he is knocking on your doorstep is folly.  Furthermore, you are not going to defeat white supremacy thinking like white supremacists.  You aren't going to defeat white supremacy acting like white supremacists.  You sure as hell aren't going to defeat white supremacy AIDING it.  You cannot build a house using the oppressor's tools.  We must get white supremacy OUT of our heads and change how we think.  As marginalized people, we cannot expect to exploit other marginalized people and profit or ignore the actions of white supremacists until we are forced to act.

The coming days are going to be difficult and stressful.  But we must as a people remain focused and vigilant.  What's more, we need to be very careful our behaviors do not aid our enemies.  We must be careful we do not become what we are trying to fight.  If we engage in the same type of xenophobic, short sighted bigotry as our enemies, if we attempt to use the same weapons that will be used to impale us then Donald Trump has already won and we have already lost.  Think family....think...

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