On the night of the presidential
election, I went to one of my friend’s house to work on homework. We had
planned to get some work done and then head over to another house to watch the
coverage with another group of people. However, it was clear that as the
numbers were coming in, we were not going to get much work done, so we went
ahead and left to go to the other house. I am originally from Birmingham,
Alabama, so growing up, I experienced my fair share of tornado warnings. On
election night, I jokingly told my friend that I felt like I was in the middle
of a tornado warning—trying to decide how much longer we could attempt to get
work done before we sought the shelter and comfort of friends we know and love.
I never thought in a million years that I would feel fear in connection to a
presidential election.
As a white woman, this loss was
devastating to me, as I was expecting to witness the election of the first
female President. Though I did not agree with all of her policies, she truly
was my champion, as I believed that she was going to crack the glass ceiling
that often feels so oppressive. As someone who believes in justice and
equality, this loss was devastating to me, as I was expecting to witness the
defeat of a candidate who I do not trust to hold those same values. However,
when I reflected on the reasons that I personally grieved for, I realized that
because I am white and can deeply empathize, I can never fully understand the
pain, frustration, and continued sense of betrayal that this election season
evoked.
I have never had to have a
conversation with my parents about the best ways to interact with the police. I
have never been followed in a store as the result of baseless suspicion. I have
never been asked to show proof of identification at Rhodes College. I have
never feared that a family member or myself would be wrongly incarcerated.
Because of each of these privileges and countless others, I will never be able
to understand the full weight of the message that Donald Trump’s election sent
to people of color in this country.
I have learned a million things
about African American history and cultural awareness from this class that I
will always be grateful for. In the wake of this election, though, I am most
thankful that I have spent the semester studying the patterns of strength and
perseverance that the Civil Rights movement continues to exhibit. In the coming
months, it is my hope that I will be able to use what I have learned through
this class to face the new presidential term prepared to stand up for what I
believe in.
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