Step up and Step Back

I genuinely believe that people suffer from understanding when to step back. Whether that be intentional or accidental. 

I was watching Jubilee on YouTube and they started a new segment called Surrounded. I love watching political debates to hear people's perspectives. It makes me think deeper about things. To be more specific, I was watching ‘25 Liberal College Students Outsmart 1 Conservative’ and ‘1 Republican vs. 25 Kamala Harris Voters.’

I specifically watched these two because I knew a certain topic would pop up.

Abortion.

For those of you who have never watched Surrounded, it consists of one person in the middle who gets to say their topic/prompt. At the same time they are literally surrounded by 25 people who get to run into the middle of the circle to debate the prompt. 

I would say there were a good number of male and females in the group but why is it that men always feel the need to speak for women?

About three to four men would run up to the chair in the center and slam down into it. Simultaneously, there would be a few women rushing over to the chair but the men would get there first.

Is it some type of savior complex? Is this similar to when white people go above and beyond and overstep black voices when it comes to black movements? Or when straight people take over at LGBTQ rallies and speak into their mega phone before the actual Trans person could speak up?

Now, I am not saying that any of these movements do not need supporters or allies but I am saying learn when to step up and step back.

During this topic only ONE woman was able to get into the chair. It took the conservative in the middle to say, “Let me hear from her.” 

That’s insane.

Men do not have periods. Men do not have a uterus. Men cannot bear children. Why are you on a panel debating OUR body before we can?

There are men who want to ban abortion and control our bodies. In the same breath there are men who want to take over ‘Yes on 4’ campaigns and have no women… working their campaign?

Nevertheless, this reminds me of a time when I went to an organizer's bootcamp in Orlando. On day 3 of this retreat, we started discussing Black Live Matter and Black Voices.

There was a mix of people from different backgrounds- White, Black, Asian and Latinx. So, we covered everything about each racial group and their history of discrimination and voting. 

But for some reason, black voices were silenced… In a space specifically for Black and Brown youth…

I do not overstep on people’s experiences. I have friends of all backgrounds. Given that I am from South Florida, I have seen it all. I always speak up for people especially if something is wrong and it resonates with me. 

But I never take over.

During the presentation on Black voters, my friend wanted to ask a question. She raised her hand. They pointed at her to speak. But instead, a young white boy just started talking over her question. He then turns around and says, “Umm, I'm talking.” With his finger over his mouth basically telling her to hush.

When I tell y’all I was so shook. I had no choice but to laugh.

This is not the first time I have experienced this.

I went to DC with another friend of mine for a Pro-Palestine rally in December last year. It was a huge rally, the whole DC was shut down. There was a jumbotron of a young Palestinian girl who was covering her face talking about her family who she hasn't heard from in weeks. She wasn't sure if they were dead or alive.

Tell me why this random girl takes the mic and starts talking.

You are not Palestinian… you are not losing your family to a genocide… Why in the world do you feel the need to speak over someone who is and is actually going through this?

I’m not sure if it’s just so much compassion that you cannot contain yourself or just wanting to show face like “Look at me, I'm doing something!”

Honestly, we will never really know people's true intentions. But if you are a person who oversteps regardless of it being genuine. Take a step back for once.

How the Democrat Party Undermines the Black Experience

President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the VRA in 1965. Photo courtesy: NPR

The Voting Rights Act of 1965 gave Black Americans the right to vote. (Not gonna lie; that year surprised me… it makes me think of how this wasn’t too long ago.) 

According to NAACP, this Act was passed under President Lyndon B. Johnson, a Democrat, “whose intention was to pass a federal Voting Rights Act to ensure that no federal, state, or local government could in any way impede people from voting because of their race or ethnicity.” I believe this has forced Black Americans to swear by the Democratic party regardless of its wrongdoings… let me explain.

After that bill was passed, President Johnson took it upon himself to say, “I’ll have those n***ers voting Democratic for the next 200 years.” And it’s clear where we’re heading.

Just like President Johnson, we never know who’s actually for us. But in this case, it doesn’t matter who’s for us… it’s who looks like us.

Disclaimer: I am a registered Democrat. Crazy, I know, but listennnn. This will all make sense, I promise. 

This is why I would like to introduce to you the tactics of identity politics. Something we have become victims of. Let’s define it- identity politics is politics based on a particular identity, such as ethnicity, race, nationality, religion, sexual orientation, gender…etc. Which is what the DP seems to cling to.

Identity politics is often the default mode of engagement, especially in this current race. Regardless of intentions, this approach cages us into monolithic categories. Nowhere is this more apparent than in how the DP engages with Black voters. The assumption that every black person will automatically vote blue is quite asinine.

Not every single black person in America is a Democrat, and I wonder why it is so hard for people to accept that. Both parties give us crumbs. The only difference is the other adds a little glitter to it.

Ever since Biden went on the Breakfast Club and said, “If you have a problem figuring out whether you’re for me or Trump, then you ain't black,” it’s been taken too literally. We became too worried about not being black enough instead of ridiculing him.

When Black people and our culture are showcased merely to fill a quota or to endorse a narrative, it undermines the authenticity and depth of our experiences. Genuine representation means more than just counting heads.

Example. A few months ago, Kamala Harris was appointed the new presidential candidate. The first thing she did was host a rally in Atlanta- the blackest city known to man. At this rally, she brought out many key figures in hip-hop/rap. Like Megan Thee Stallion, Quavo and she even walked out to Beyonce’s song ‘Freedom.’ Now you may be thinking, what’s wrong with that? I understand these artists portray a certain lifestyle, but they shouldn’t be limited to that.

Megan thee Stallion graduated from Texas Southern University, receiving her bachelor’s degree in health administration. Rather than having her perform in such a professional environment, maybe she could’ve given a speech on the importance of health in the black community. That is so much more powerful than performing “body crazy, curvy wavy, big t* little waist.” Plus, she had to censor almost every song. Quavo could’ve spoken a bit more on gun violence, given that a senseless act of gun violence killed his cousin and groupmate Takeoff. 

We are missing the mark. The DP does this because the black vote is expected. We have sworn our allegiance to the DP. The only way to keep us happy is by giving us the black experience- hip-hop/rap, being from the hood, and some brown lady who’s suddenly black.

Regardless, it is important to note that my dissent and reasonings are in hopes of a healthier dynamic with black people and political ideologies.

We need to open our eyes and become “woke” to what is right in front of us.

The black vote must be earned, and the DP continues to underestimate us because we let them.