Page 14 - Florida Sentinel 7-24-20

Black Press
The Incendiary President Is Killing America
BY THE BLACK PRESS ASSOCIATION
OF FLORIDA
African Americans knew that Donald Trump was going to be a problem. Nearly ninety percent voted against him, voicing their strong opposition. That vote was higher than any other ethnic group in the nation.
Our relationship with this president has never been good, and he made no serious effort to improve it. Black leaders tried to work with Trump during the early days of this chaotic administra- tion, but it was futile. The narcissistic president tossed centuries of political deco- rum and protocol. Com- pound that with his constant misinformation about every-
DONALD TRUMP
thing and President Barack Obama, it's just too much.
Here’s the other problem with Trump. He never ex- pected to win. He had no pol- icy or plans for any aspect of governing because he is inca- pable and unfit to lead as president. But a margin of 77,000 Electoral College votes from the White suburbs in 3 states brought Trump to power. Seventy-seven thou- sand votes! We were stuck with his racist legacy starting
with his father’s membership in the Ku Klux Klan, court confirmation of his discrimi- natory rental policy, and his call for the execution of the young Black men for the rape of a woman in Central Park of which they were exonerated.
Yes, we knew who Don- ald Trump is. And now, everyone else knows.
The murder of George Floyd revived Trump’s laser focus on encouraging his base, who are threatened by people of color. And now Rayshad Brooks has been added to the long list of killings. Instead of talking about corrective measures and bringing people together, Trump encourages more vi- olence.
We live with the horror of racism. Racism every day, in
some form, African Ameri- cans are insulted, stereo- typed, discriminated against, and yes, killed because of their race.
Now, let’s talk about this. It isn’t like we’ve all been buddies in the greatest nation in the world, but it has never been this bad. This president has worked hard to demonize us to his advantage.
Corrupt cops and others take their direction from the top. These people listen to the president, and it's not in code. For centuries, this country has failed to cure its shameful burden. That is brutality exacerbated by racism. The last time reform occurred followed the terrible police violence during the sixty's Civil Rights move- ment. What played out on television was convincing and undeniable, just like the slow, horrific execution of George Floyd.
This time it’s differ- ent. America witnessed murder
Huge protests erupted and continue nationwide be- cause this is what we do. Speak out and challenge the government. In this case, po- lice brutality. It is tough to separate the many good cops from the bad and the over- whelmingly peaceful protest- ers from the looters. And you have the heavily armed law enforcement and military try- ing to keep order that some- times devolved into chaos.
It's quite a conundrum. But for most of us, it was very fa- miliar and scary. It is part of our daily lives.
Reminiscent of the civil rights movement was the youth presence. While this movement also reflected mil- lennial dominance, there were as many Whites as Blacks participating. These young people’s knowledge of the second Civil War was lim- ited to what they read in his- tory books. They are writing their legacy. It's usually the first thing Black people com- ment on regarding the resur- gence of Black Lives Matter. This is the generation Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., dreamed would look beyond race to be "judged not by the color of their skin, but the content of their character."
The vast majority of White and Black America agree that systemic racism is real and an enormous prob- lem in America. And we know we can’t convince a racist that they should aban- don White privilege.
They’re not interested in being on the right side of his- tory either. But we can be part of the majority who will vote against elected officials who are racist. That’s what happens when America wit- nesses murder. It votes.
For more information about The Black Press Association of Florida, Inc. go to blackpressas- sociationof.com.
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