Recently I had a discussion with my granddaughter, whom I mentioned and thanked in the past few weeks for helping me recover following my cancer surgery. She had written a paper for her freshmen English class about police brutality and its effects on her as a young African American woman. She asked for my opinion and help. The paper was thoughtful, well-constructed and researched but what disturbed me was that at such a young age she seemed resigned to the fact that white people will hate her no matter what she does or accomplishes. Of course as a good grandfather I did my best to assure her that her accomplishments will be rewarded and that placing a blanket indictment on all of white America is just as wrong as her being pre-judged.
I had not only convinced her but myself in the process. The next morning, I opened my twitter feed and news sources to find out a teacher’s aide in Gainesville, Georgia had posted, what I am sure she found humorous, a story from some right wing conservative rag belittling First Lady, Michelle Obama, as a “gorilla” who would have trouble functioning in the real world without having her lifestyle being subsidized by the taxpayers (except Mr. Trump). The teacher’s aide is Jane Wood Allen and she was employed at Chestatee Elementary School. Black men and women are often asked with scowling looks from white people when discussing people of color who commit crime, “what do you think about that awful crime?” Now it is my turn, “what do you think about that awful Jane Allen,” (I am using the prerequisite scowl) someone entrusted with shaping the minds of our children?
Of course it’s a silly question, but my granddaughter is faced with this monolithic judgement of her every day.
I have fallen into the trap myself. I often ask myself, if the first Black President can be depicted with a bone through his nose, watermelons patches adorning the Whitehouse lawn and 60 percent of Republicans thinking he is a Manchurian Candidate what hope is there for me? Every so often I venture into insane world and read the comment sections of online publications and the like that involve people of color as the subject matter. It is like a trip to 1860. The vile nature of the comments are unbelievable. Yet San Francisco 49er quarterback Colin Kaepernick is called disrespectful because he is quietly kneeling before the flag in protest. So how do I honestly discount my grandchild’s legitimate concerns about being shot or as she puts it, “I worry every night about my Mom losing my daddy or my five brothers being killed, for nothing!”
Donald Trump is holding weekly rallies, calling for fellow Americans to be spied on at the voting booths, subtly advocating assassinations and creating a brand of open white superiority not seen since George Wallace’s run for president in 1972. This neo-narcissism has invaded our lives all the way up to the man who wants to be the President of the United States. This should stop now. Look at yourself in a mirror, scowl and ask yourself, “is this my America?”
Vote 2016!