Black History Month, Racism, MAGA

When I owned my firm, I worked with everyone. Democrats, Republicans, Independents and people of all religions or none. During President’s Obama’s first term, I had several Republicans who were clients called Obama the N word. This was a word I had not heard since college and that was in the early 1970s. None were embarrassed. They were surprised, not that they said it, but I called them out. With one client, I think the expression I used was something like “you’re a F***ing idiot”.

Recently I heard someone say, “not all racists are Republicans, but all racists are Republicans”. Is this true?

Many saw that the White House recently posted a meme which was a disgusting picture of the Obamas. If you thought this was funny, you’re a racist. If you did not object to it, you’re also a racist.

I have often heard people say “I’m not a racist, but”. Whenever someone says that, they are a racist. Period.

When Trump became President he ended all DEI and affirmative action requirements. DEI stands for diversity, inclusion, equality. So what Trump in reality said what he was for is uniformity, inequality and exclusion. This makes sense to me as I believe Trump is both a racist and a sexist and as are most of his supporters. What he and his wealthy supporters want is for rich white men to run everything.

By shutting down DEI and affirmative action, Trump and his followers are ignoring hundreds of years of history. Unlike immigrants from Europe, The ancestors of African Americans were taken from their country, put in chains, and transported to the US in inhuman conditions, sold as slaves and then worked as slaves. The first slave ship came to America in 1619. [Hence the name of the book, The 1619 Project. America grew and slave owners prospered because of slavery. More than once I have heard abortion is the worst sin in America. I say, not even close. The worst sin of America is slavery flowed closely by the gradual eradication of the various Native American tribes. Slavery ended in 1863 during the Civil War, but has continued with various forms of discrimination ranging from redlining by banks in the 1930s to Jim Crow laws which segregated blacks from whites, primarily in the South.

A cornerstone of MAGA Republicans are being anti-CRT and anti-woke. CRT is an academic theory about how systemic racism is ingrained in legal systems, policies, and societal structures,. The evidence for CRT is overwhelming. Again, red lining by banks making it more difficult for black families to buy houses is one example. Someone who is anti-CRT is also racist. They are ignoring history. I suspect there is a very high correlation between MAGAs and anti-CRTs.

Woke started in black communities starting in the 1930s and simply meant that blacks should be aware of racial prejudice and social injustice. Though its history to most of us today, blacks in the 1930s were also very aware of lynchings. From 1883-1941 there are 3,265 documented lynching of black people in America. The actual number is likely much higher. Many of our white ancestors had it very difficult during the Great Depression, but they were not worried about being lynched because of the color of their skin.

Blacks in the 1930s were also very aware of a number of massacres of black in various communities over a number of years. One example is the Tulsa Race Massacre in 1921 where thousands of whites murdered hundreds of blacks along with burning their homes and businesses. Other examples are the massacres took place in Rosewood, Florida in 1923 and East St. Louis, Illinois in 1917. There are more. When black communities talked about being woke in the 1930s, , it was not history but current events and could be life saving.

Woke did not start with black communities in the 1930s, it started with the teachings of Jesus. Jesus’s message of love and compassion is in sense being woke. Today, if someone is anti-woke, I would suggest they are neither an American or follower of Jesus.

Trump and his Administration has been removing exhibits and markers related to slavery and black history. These include National Parks, Arlington Cemetery, and International Memorials. There is only one reason to do this, racism.

Black History Month is an opportunity to learn about the racism and discrimination blacks in American have been subject to for hundreds of years. It is important but sad part of our history. To ignore or want to erase this part of American history is racist. Yet that is what Trump and MAGA have been trying to do.

Do I think all Republicans are racist. No. But I do think all MAGA Republicans are racists. This is one of the many reasons no Republican who supports Trump should be elected in the next election.