Why Is The Burden Always Mine Only

A few days ago I saw the following tweet from Adam Best (a White guy) in my timeline:
"Where's the NYT [New York Times] op-ed challenging racists to drop preconceived notions and reach out to minorities to find common ground? Why is the onus on minorities and advocates to drag racists into the 21st Century? Why does the media set the bar high for Liberals, low for Conservatives?"


This tweet really hit me. These are questions that myself and I presume most people of color have asked themselves their entire lives. It really got me thinking and inspired me to address this.


Now, I am not going to address the third question directly because it is a blog unto itself. However, that question plays a role into this discussion.


So, I'm going to write a letter or a grievance to all White Supremacists, White Nationalists, racists, bigots and their apologists. This is also for those who harbor racial resentment, as well as those who low key hold bigoted beliefs but are too cowardly to just admit it.


Here we go:


One of the things that literally makes me laugh out loud is when any of you or Conservatives harp about how "liberal" the New York Times and Washington Post are. It is literally one of the silliest statements uttered. This is especially true for the Times who has spent the last 18 months running "special" articles and op-ed pieces attempting to humanize avowed racists and pretentious "I'm not a bigot or racist" bigots and racists.


Nary a week goes by without the New York Times having dispatched a reporter into "red state" America or to the compound of some Neo-Nazi group gathering information about how they feel and their perspective. Now, that is perfectly fine. The problem arises when the features and op-eds then start lecturing me, POC and those who aren't racists how we need to "understand", "learn to compromise" and "reach out the olive branch" even if they have a rabid pitbull ready to snatch the branch and our hand.


On the flip side there are fewer features about how POC, LGBTQ and Muslims have been harassed, insulted and in some cases terrorized by the very people we are expected to embrace. And, don't get triggered saying "fake news". It is not fake news. See, you don't read the Times because your leaders say "it's bad", so you don't know. I implore you to take 30 minutes out of your time and you'll realize I'm not pulling this shit out of my ass.


Here is what I really want to address and that is why is the onus only on minorities to "get along" with you. In order to find common ground both sides have to give some. Right?






But, it is always us who has to capitulate. I have noticed this from an early age. When I was younger I did exactly that. I can remember feeling I have to be beyond obedient or beyond nice. I also had to be really smart but not too smart, if you know what I mean. And, you do!


My parents drilled into me I had to be above and beyond. My mom would say, "You have to be two steps better because they will always see you as two steps behind."


As I went into my late teens/early 20s, I had an epiphany. Why do I have to be extra nice to the point I'm almost servile? Why do I have to almost feel embarrassed for being intelligent? I literally said, "Eff that!" I'm a good person who is always respectful and kind to people. If me being me isn't good enough, screw you. I am intelligent and more intelligent than some of you. If that intimidates you, that is your shortcoming not mine. Not to mention I could be near perfect and people still hated because I am Black.




Where this is really the most frustrating is in certain people's attitude. While they're saying, "We are all equal", they're literally simultaneously implying that we have to come to them because we're the ones "offended". What POC has experienced that before? Probably within the last week.


For race relations to improve there must be understanding, conciliation and compromise. But, those things have to come from both sides.


I have heard all my life and still hear some White folks say, "Well, I'd like Blacks more if they acted normal and talked normal and assimilated. Oh, and they didn't listen to that music [rap and r&b]."


What does "act normal" and "talk normal" mean? Do you mean be less "Black"? Are you implying Black people do not speak well? Are you implying Black people act "bad"?


I know exactly what you mean. See, it's bullshit like this that angers Black folk and other POC. Instead of judging us as individuals you continue to propagate stereotypes and stigmas. Rather than seeing us for the human beings we are you'd prefer to dehumanize us to keep your narrative alive. Because if you stopped stigmatizing entire groups of people you would certainly find out your beliefs are vapid, putrid, false piles of stupidity!


Let me address the music briefly. Music is an universal language. Most Whites who demonize rap have never actually listened to it. And, if they have, they have never listened enough to make a fair critique of it. Now, I'm not saying if you listen to it you'll like it or should like it. What I am saying is that the inherent implication is that rap music is bad because Blacks perform it and others tell me it's immoral. Also, I love it when people make that statement to me. Because, I always reply it's pretty presumptive of you to believe I listen to rap. Actually I do along with just about every other genre of music because I am not a close minded bigot.


The larger point here is why is it I have to conform everything I am for you. I accept you for who you are; am I not deserving of the same? Why do POC have to be something different than what and who we are? Assimilation is not conforming. Read a dictionary for God's sake!


People who harbor racism or racist beliefs must take personal accountability. Racism is learned. That, I concede. However, continuing to facilitate racism and bigotry when you know better is a choice.


People of color don't make you racist. People who say that are using a cop out. Actually, they are just chicken shit cowards, who are willfully ignorant and hateful. Period.


I always love when idiots say, "Obama being elected was supposed to end racism.".......WHAT?!


The election of the first African-American signified that a majority of Americans had finally been enlightened and came into the 21st Century. Unfortunately, the election also highlighted that racism is still alive and well. Quite frankly, it has been emboldened over the last three years.


Obama's election wasn't some miracle elixir that made racists and bigots suddenly not racist and bigoted. To think it would is idiotic. And, that is being kind.


Racism is learned but it becomes a feeling of the heart. Racists will never stop being racist until they start believing racism is wrong. As long as you see me as inferior, you're not going to change.


That is what infuriates me about the racist apologists. Y'all love to play this game where you say we're equal but in the same breath you say things that imply you think that equal is more 55/45 than 50/50.


You want things to improve (if you really do) then you have to embrace us the way you want us to embrace you. Instead of demanding we capitulate accept us assimilating which we do. Common ground exists but you have to confront some demons and truths just as we do. Understanding and compromise is not an one way street.


Last thing. Everything I said applies to sane people who want to listen. When it comes to you dyed in the wool Neo-Nazis, White Supremacists and White Nationalists I'm not going to agree to disagree.


After #Charlottesville I actually had people tell me in person and on Facebook that I need to back off and "agree to disagree". Look, and this goes for the apologists who told me that, I am NOT going to agree to disagree with people who dogmatically believe because of the color of my skin I am inherently inferior to Whites, I am inherently less intelligent than Whites, people who want to deport me because this is a "White" country and people who want to eradicate me from the earth.


I am not going to concede one inch to those jackasses. You are all the way outside your mind if you think I should. No common ground can be obtained with folks like that. The fact anyone would even utter such nonsense says they need to check their privilege. The same people who say that mess are the same people who won't even hear out someone who is pro-choice on why they're pro-choice. So, they should understand where I am coming from.


It is simple. As the tweet says, it's not my burden to drag people into the 21st Century let alone make so-called self professed Christians actually adhere to Christ's principles.


If you're racist or a bigot or harbor some ill feelings toward minorities, that is not on me or anyone else. That is on you! Only you can prevent you from starting forrest fires and only you can prevent you from being an ignorant hateful bigot!


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Democrats, Do As GOP Does, Embrace Your Base

Poor Democrats. Always the tortured souls of the American political landscape. They always have this innate ability to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. Sanctimony and pretentious principled stands often contribute to their complex.


Also, the lack of a killer instinct to win also adds to their seemingly reoccurring problems. The desire to win is omnipresent, but they always get in their own way.


The current Democratic Party emboldens these issues and stigmas. Here we are in 2018 and Democrats are still litigating the 2016 election. They are wringing their hands and scratching their temples as to how they lost the presidential election to the most unpopular uncouth candidate to ever run for the office.


To help sleep at night they comfort themselves with valid reasons albeit not the reason that allowed the others to factor into the election. While the GOP candidate was the most unpopular nominee to ever run, the Democratic candidate, Hillary Clinton, was a close second. Yes, YES, Russian interference likely had a hand in the election because of all the misinformation they were spreading. And, of course, the tendency of a large swath of the electorate to vet nothing and never employ critical curiosity and thinking helped that misinformation campaign. Ughhhhh. Anyway...Also, besides from Clinton being unpopular, she ran a shitty ass campaign. She, Robbie Mook (campaign manager) and John Podesta were so convinced the American people would never vote for a nominee who spouted racist tropes, demeaned Gold Star families, disparaged an entire religion and called an entire group of people "rapist and murderers (except for the ones he *assumed* were good people) that they unforgivably abdicated the job of campaigning. Clinton literally not one time visited any of the three states that made up a 77,000 vote difference that cost her the electoral college.


With all of these things being said and true it is not what truly cost her the election. What cost Clinton the easy win she should have had along with partially being responsible for the Dems losing over 1000 federal and state elected seats during the Barack Obama presidency is the reluctance, if not refusal, of the party to embrace its base.


If the 2016 Democratic primaries did nothing else, it illuminated exactly where the base of the party is. Bernie Sanders tapped into the left populist movement he has purveying for years and that more and more party voters had been moving towards after Obama's first election. Honestly, the shift likely began happening after the 2000 elections.


Sanders, as a 74 year old man, energized young people. It was similar to what Obama did in 2008 and Bill Clinton in 1992. Sanders spoke to what young voters believed in. But, as it turned out, he reached older voters as well.


It became apparent that a large contingency of the party supported what Bernie was proposing even if some them weren't supporting him over Clinton. Bernie gave her a fight. It could be said he dominated in the Midwest and Pacific Northwest. As we know Bernie didn't win the nomination. I'm not going to go into the particulars of that.


But, his policies did win. He forced Hillary to the left but it was obvious she didn't embrace or believe in them. Consequently, along with other reasons, a segment of Sanders supporters didn't support her. The base as a whole did not energetically campaign for Clinton. The diehard "I'm with her" Clinton supporters rallied around her but because the rest of the base was unenthusiastic they tended to shun and side-eye what was actually the majority of the base. They were so concerned with electing the first female president they neglected to acknowledge the issues that resonated with Democratic base voters.


Now, here we are two years later and the party leadership along with the neoliberal wing of the party still aren't getting it. No, that's letting them off the hook. They just don't care or are so entrenched in their own bullshit they're not seeing what is clearly in front of them.


I like Chuck Schumer but he and Nancy Pelosi are doing the party a huge disservice with their leadership. Frankly, their leadership sucks! They refuse to listen to the base instead catering to the donor class. They are stuck in this inane doctrine of appealing to centrists and "working" with the Republicans.


Lawd Jesusssssss! You all still haven't learned the lesson Obama finally painfully learned? The GOP is NEVER going to work with you! Neva, evah, evah, EVAH!


The GOP gets it. They understand where their base is. Sure, many of the elected officials find some of the rhetoric and core beliefs distasteful but they realize if they want to win elections they have to cozy up to the Republican base. And, those who cannot stomach it such as Paul Ryan, Bob Corker and Jeff Flake are leaving. But, the RNC recognizes who their base is and has conformed its platform to the base while trying to appeal to moderates, I guess. Regardless of what you might or might not think about Republican values embracing their base has worked for them.


Democrats need to take the cue and do the same. Look, the base of the party is no longer neoliberals and centrists. The base is largely comprised of left leaning classic liberals, Progressives, Justice Democrats and Democratic Socialists. The party has moved left. It's not far left like Republicans claim but the base is no longer tolerant of center left Democrats who seem more beholden to their donors and big money than they do their voters.


Now, I recently said on Facebook that the party needs to unify and support candidates of all stripes. Some districts and states require a more moderate candidate to run. Winning needs to be the priority because an agenda cannot be implemented if elections aren't being won. I stand by those comments. It is just common sense.


However, as a whole the party has to move away from corporatism if they want win and get back into power. I understand that folks like Schumer and Pelosi sorta cringe at the rise of progressiveness and Democratic Socialism. I, also, understand they love power. But, what they, the centrists and the Clinton wing of the party must come to grips with is their ideology no longer aligns with the base. They better realize that continuing to ignore and alienate the base is not a winning strategy. In fact, it will drive people out of the party. It already has.


The old guard lives in the present as if it's 1993. It simply isn't. The country has changed. It is obviously more polarized.


They shun the left wing of the party because they don't want to be called "socialists" by Republicans. First of all, grow a spine. Who gives a shit what Republicans say?! For the love of God fight back! Second, the GOP are going to call you socialists, Marxists and Communists regardless.


Let's be real here, a'right. Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton and Barack Hussein (warning: someone will be triggered) Obama were all left of center to centrist Democrats. They were. All of them have some progressive beliefs but their core approach politically is centrists. Republicans called of three of them Marxists, Socialists and Communists.


So, Dems, stop letting the ignorant erroneous propaganda of the right dictate your approach. The right likes to strawman. How about embracing what the party is and actually employing the big tent mantra you claim to possess? Stop being disingenuous and explain what progressivism is.


Fact is the majority of Americans support many of the main tenants of the Progressive platform. Over 60% of voters support single payor healthcare. Ninety percent of Americans support sensible gun control. The vast majority of Americans support an increase in minimum wage/living wage. Almost 60% believe in justice/prison reform. Nearly 65% of voters support legalizing marijuana. A majority of Americans support getting big money out of politics.


So, this really shouldn't be hard for Democrats. Endear yourselves to policies proposed by Justice Democrats and supported by the American people. This is not rocket science.


The midterm elections are 100 days away. Most people believe a blue wave is coming. I'm skeptical. Democrats have a long history of choking. Considering where the majority of the country stands on the key issues and the daily shitshow out of the White House the midterms should be an easy layup.


But, Dem leadership, that will be up to you. Will you continue to be petty and myopic or will you fully support the Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's of the party? 2020 is fast approaching. I'm not saying Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders or Kamala Harris is the guaranteed answer to defeating the Great Pumpkin of Mar-A-Lago. But, I am certain Hillary Clinton or Tim Kaine or that ilk will result in a certain loss.


I supported Hillary in 2016. I won't apologize for that necessarily. But, I will admit I was wrong about why I chose her over Bernie. I supported with my intellect what Hillary was proposing, but my heart was closer with Bernie's vision. I erroneously thought Bernie had no chance of winning. I saw the polls showing him trouncing that orange dude, but I just didn't believe people would vote for someone the GOP was calling a socialist. I was wrong.


Democrats, don't be wrong again in 2018 and 2020. Our democracy literally hinges on you getting it right.