This is the response that I received when a friend of mine shared my most recent Blog Post
http://mojossocialjustice.blogspot.com/2016/11/sit-in-it.html
Enjoy the following deflection, resistance and subsequent White Fragility ....
Howard Lewis Clinton received 5M less votes than Obama did in '12 and nearly 9M less than in '08. Trump received the same number of votes as Romney in '12 ~60M. Somehow Trump received a slightly higher percentage of the minority vote than Romney did in '12. Therefore, while I am horrified at the number of people who did cast a ballot FOR Trump, I am as horrified by the number of people who did not even bother to turn our to vote AGAINST him. Not voting matters too.
Leah Lewis Howard so eloquently puts what I would like to say straight out which is that minority groups do not get to blame Trump entirely on whites because of the exact figures above. I wasn't voting for Hillary, I was voting against Trump and that is why I voted for her. For anyone to act like ONLY white people voted for Trump is categorically untrue. I not only know minorities who voted for Trump, the statistics also show that a large percentage of minorities chose not to vote against him, i.e. Not vote at all. A lot of people are to blame for Trump, and they are not all white. If people of a historically disenfranchised community chose not to vote, then they share in the blame game you apparently want to support.
Monica Johnson To Be Clear... At no point in the attached post, did I use the word or racial classification WHITE. I purposefully included multiple marginalized identities in this statement as I believe it prudent for people to understand that a variety of marginalizations are now affected by knowing that their friends and families voted against their safety and livelihood. Neither did I intend this to be a discussion of individual who voted 3rd party, against their own interest, or who abstained from voting. (If you are so passionate about folks who fall into this category as I am about hide and seek bigots... feel free) In this PSA, I am clearly speaking to and about individuals who made the deliberate decision to vote for Trump (signifying their agreement with or lack of concern for his bigotry and hate) and are now going about the world begging others to not disavow or dislike them for their deliberate support of a bigot. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- What is represented in both responses to my above linked statement is 1) attempted deflection and 2) resistance yet again to engage in much needed conversations about power and privilege.... All of this is fine and you are certainly welcome to your opinion, but if at all possible, do not misrepresent my words or intent... Please and Thank You. Monica Johnson
Howard Lewis I stated clearly that I was horrified by the votes for Trump. In May I left the Republican Party when it was clear he had a lock on the nomination, and voted against him in the most effective manner possible. I voted for Clinton. I tried to convince others to do the same with some success and some disheartening and family tension failure. My conscious is clear. However, the numbers are the numbers that the Obama coalition in '08 and '12 that had the most to lose in this election did not turn out. To not take that into account to is deflect from a terrible truth that if only a little over a million more voters had turned out from the past coalition then WI, PA, MI, and FL would have flipped to blue. Instead of a Trump administration with all that it will entail an opportunity for an historic achievement was lost. It was lost yes but folks voting for Trump, but it was lost by those who had the power to stop him.
Leah Lewis Monica, you may not have used the classification WHITE, but it was highly implied. Which is fine, you are entitled to your opinion. Yes, I am white. Yes, I am privileged. I am not denying that fact. But I went out and voted for Hillary because I was against Trump. You are deflecting the fact that minority communities do have to share responsibility for what happened in this election by not coming out to vote against a racist. The minority communities just did not show up for this election. And you seem to be not acknowledging that fact.
Leah Lewis If that is not your intent, then please, let me know. But your community needs to look in the mirror just as much as my community does. I have to look at friends of mine and decide whether or not to keep them in my life knowing they voted for a person who welcomed and encouraged racism and misogyny.
Monica Johnson Wow... just wow... there are many jewels from both of your responses that I do not have the time nor the personal responsibility to redirect, I will just share this Black Women turned out in record numbers to the polls, specifically for Hillary. I will attach an article that will assist you with this. I also suggest that you take some time to delve into the true background of voting and voter suppression in minority communities, especially in battle ground states. There may be a really racially/privileged explanation for the difference in the minority vote... I will also say, that just because you are triggered by Whiteness and its implications doesn't mean that someone else didnt read my statement and feel convicted along the lines of religion, or heteronormitivty, or any other potential area of dominance. Lastly, I would like to say that marginalized communities ARE ALREADY (and HAVE BEEN FOR CENTURIES) doing the work to counterbalance the systems that are built to destroy them. We don't need YOU to tell us what our mirror looks like or how to use it. -This shall be my last response... Carry on
Monica Johnson https://www.washingtonpost.com/.../86d9182a-a845-11e6...
Howard Lewis You are making it an us versus them argument to fit your narrative rather than seeing the obvious that while the white vote went overwhelmingly for Trump there were a missing 5 to 9 million votes that cost the election. Only a fraction of that lost vote would have been changed everything. That white voting block was not a lock on outcome at all if Hillary received Obama number of votes.
Leah Lewis Again, "YOU". You are making this an Us versus them mentality when it isn't. The actual statistics show that Hillary did not get as many minority votes as Obama which could have flipped at least four states. You are acting like I have some white guilt mentality. Am I pissed off at white people and white women in particular for voting for Trump. Fuck yeah. But that doesn't negate the fact that a lot of minority communities did not show up to vote. if they had, then Hillary would've won PA. I am just pissed off at your post acting like white people are the only people to blame, and that is what you are doing, don't be coy. Is the safety pin thing bullshit to make people feel better, yes it is. But if I see anyone being bullied for their race or gender or whatever I will stand up for them, regardless of safety pin.
Quite the exchange. MoJo, I want to affirm that not only does your voice matter, but the position that you have at work gives voice and permission to so many other people who are looking for the words to express their feelings. BTW who are these people?
ReplyDeleteA friend of mine who is a director of multicultural affairs at Linfield College reposted my blog. These folks are friends of his friends I believe. I think they are both attorneys.
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