Telling Us to “Get Over” Our Pains Will Not Make Them Go Away

When I woke up this morning to the reality of a Donald Trump Presidency, I wanted to immediately attack his character. His marriage history. His moral incompetence. I also wanted to attack his wife who has a very questionable past. I wanted to post explicit pictures of her and ask “Is this your idea of a First Lady?” I wanted to mock his sons. Criticize his daughters. I just wanted to be mean and hurtful because I was so angry.

I decided that being mean and nasty does nothing. Senselessly attacking others is not how I was raised or how I wished to be treated in return. So instead, I made several Facebook posts simply addressing my displeasure and fear, as millions of Americans have done.

Countless times I have seen and heard others telling Trump opponents to “Get over it” as if we are not allowed to mourn or express our concerns. Eight years after the most beautiful, poised First Family entered the White House, they have endured such vile hatred no one should have to endure. The Obama children have been targets of verbal and internet abuse and ridicule. The FLOTUS has endured countless attacks for her beauty and her tireless work. The President has been mocked and targeted for everything outside of his policies. Just two weeks ago, the POTUS was being compared to a monkey for Halloween. It is clear that millions never got over Election 2008.

In a country that was stolen by Native Americans and was built on slavery, minorities are constantly being told to get over their pain. However, dismissing our pain does not make it go away. When we are constantly screaming our injustices and showing video evidence, we are obviously asking you to hear us, help us. When there is clear documentation about targeting minority communities, disenfranchising minority voters, illegal stop and frisk, rejecting financial opportunities, and bonified discrimination on all levels, we should not be expected to “get over it” without ratification.

White America. You tell me to get over it yet, you wave your Confederate flag in my face as if you have never gotten over your defeat. Your “heritage” is my pain and just as you want to hold onto it, I want you to understand why so many of us are hurting and why the conversations with our sons are not the same as yours. Understand why our conversations at 3am on November 9  were much different than yours.

President-elect Trump ran a campaign full of hate and discriminatory dialogue towards minorities. The campaign attacked women, mocked our handicapped, and insulted our Veterans and brought violence to innocent Muslims. The only national newspaper to endorse Trump was the KKK newspaper, The Crusader. When minorities are telling America we are being brutalized by American police and we see video evidence and the entire union endorses a candidate who has spoken out in support of targeting minority communities, telling us to “get over it” is not so easy to do. Our fear, our pain, our voices are real. If you want to have unity, listen to us. Don’t silence us.

Am I mad Donald Trump won? I’m hurt. I’m hurt because while he exposed a corrupt system, he also exposed millions of Americans and their ideals. America is broken. While he is now calling for unity, he seems unwilling to address how the tone of his campaign led to an increase in the division. White America voted in a demagogue because it feared for their lives. Lives that have always had the upper hand. We just wanted a seat at the table.

Please know, I am not afraid of Donald Trump completely dismantling a system that was always corrupt. I am afraid that white America chose a candidate who had no solutions or plans, but instead, lead with hate and demagoguery. I am afraid for my son and my nephew. I am afraid for my love. I am afraid for my Muslim friends and my Immigrant neighbors. White America, I am also afraid for your daughters whom you chose not to protect.

The Democratic process won. As broken as it is, it allowed Donald J. Trump to be nominated and I accept that. What I will not accept is intolerance, discrimination, and anyone dismissing our voices. For in order to be united, we must get to the root of the division. If there was ever a time to have dialogue, it is now. Let’s talk.

Peace!