BHM 2018: Feedback, please.
Black History Month is ending, and I hope that this year’s topic has held your interest, even if you did not read every word. I know some of them were long. But I thought they were so fascinating that I just wanted to share. There was so much that I learned.
• Black interests are so different from those of the white majority that the more legislation favors black people, the less likely it is to pass. I never saw that put so clearly. I never realized what an uphill battle our legislators face. We’re not just a statistical minority, and contrary to what my husband says, it’s not because black politicians are crooked. We just don’t have enough allies, and we are unable to fight the interests of big money. Big money MAKES money off of the backs of our people, so it is never in their interest to do anything that helps us. It’s very clear, but not easy to solve.
• It’s possible that we have had presidents who were passing for white, but had some black ancestry. Why does this horrify some white people so much that they do everything in their power to refute it? Well, it’s complicated. It’s how they feel about us, it’s how they feel about the presidency. It’s how completely they believe that a drop of black blood is a taint, a stain, a blemish, of an otherwise acceptable person. It reminds me of the white folks who find out from DNA testing that they have black ancestry – and lose their ever-loving minds. It makes me sick, but that’s how much some people hate us. Even when they don’t realize it.
• We have had some MAJOR power as Cabinet members. And it’s not just that we had power. It’s the extent to which our government makes a difference in our lives. From food stamps, to Section 8, to education grants, to the Weather Bureau, to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, to Air Traffic Control, to Medicare and Medicaid, to the Food and Drug Administration, to OSHA, to the Census Bureau, to FEMA and the FBI. The next time someone asks what our federal tax dollars go to, I will be armed with this list, knowing that so many of these agencies make my life better, safer, more secure. I don’t feel bad about paying taxes. Yes, too much goes to the military, but the government does a LOT for us, and I’m glad its there.
• We have represented America around the world as ambassadors. Maybe not so much in Europe, but we’ve been there. We have integrated the State Department and held leadership roles at the table of Foreign Policy. I feel good about that.
• It’s hard to believe that we have only had 10 black senators. But I understand better how hard it is to win the support to become a Senator. It is SAD that we have only had 4 governors. But again, I understand. On the other hand, we have had MANY black mayors of cities that were only 20% black. That means we’re creating allies, and more non-black people are looking beyond our skin color and seeing what we are capable of. I truly believe that we will see an explosion of black governors in the 21st century. We have three black senators right now. Progress.
• Exploring the politics of Reconstruction was fascinating because of the underlying truth. When we had the right to vote, WE USED IT. We organized, we lobbied, we voted, and we fairly elected African-Americans to the Senate and House of Representatives. It was only for about ten years, before we were completely shut down. But the reality of our organizational skills and our political savvy needs to be in every history book, and in the knowledge base of every black child. So that when they become 18, voting matters to them.
So, what did you learn? Please tell me. Between 100=300 people read my series but there wasn't a lot of feedback. I really want to hear from you. It will inspire me to do this next year.
Lauren
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