Some thoughts on MLK Day 2018: be not afraid

CNN Graphic

WELL -- THIS HEADLINE should keep white nationalists awake at night. CNN has posted an article titled: 

America is changing. Bigoted slurs, immigration bans and racist rallies can't change that

The article is worth a read. It shows graphically that the standard definition of what is American is changing. 

The racist animus dividing our country must have civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. turning over in his grave. Today, (Jan. 15) on Martin Luther King Day, 2018, our country is facing the worst race relations since the 1960s.

When Donald Trump and his supporters chant "Make America Great Again," they are referring to an era that never existed for people of color. 

It was a time when many states still had laws on the books outlawing interracial marriages, racial covenants were common in deeds forbidding home sales to nonwhites, laws were still prevalent that prevented black Americans from voting, separate but equal was the law of the land, doors were closed o golf clubs, schools, businesses and social institutions to nonwhites and the opportunities for advancement to an education or in a career were few except for the privileged insiders.

During the presidential campaign, Trump exhorted his predominantly white followers to vote for him because "it's your last chance." He was able to tap into the deep uneasiness held by many white Americans of the demographic shift that is changing the face of our country that historically placed them at the top of the heap.

In the back of their minds, Trump supporters knew the coded meaning of "Make America Great Again." That campaign slogan caused the majority of white voters to cast their ballot for Trump. White men voted for him overwhelmingly.  Surprisingly, a majority of white women -- especially the suburban moms -- voted for him despite the number of women who accused Trump of sexual misconduct. 

RELATED: Who is Gary Lee? Another MLK Day, another President

In the 2016 presidential election, Trump won the majority of all the white votes in almost every category. Race trumped common sense. Race trumped the lies and playground insults that came out of Trump's mouth. Race trumped the economy. Race trumped the obvious racist attacks against Muslims, Mexicans, Blacks and immigrants.

It is not just the recent vulgar remarks Trump made about immigrants from certain countries that mark him as a racist. Even before he launched his campaign with a tirade against Mexican immigrants, his life has numerous examples of what he thinks of Blacks, Latinos, Muslims, Asians and other people of color. What makes Trump's brand of racism so frightful, is like so many other whites, he is unaware of his racism.

Based on what Trump said about the immigrants from Haiti, Africa and El Salvador, Trump continues to use race to divide our country by stoking the fears of the white majority, fears based on ignorance and racial stereotypes.

CNN is not alone with its conclusions, According to the nopartisan Pew Research Center, immigrants are driving overall workforce growth in the U.S. As the Baby Boom generation heads toward retirement, growth in the nation’s working-age population (those ages 25 to 64) will be driven by immigrants and the U.S.-born children of immigrants, at least through 2035.

CNN GRAPHIC

This demographic trend scares the bejeebers out of white supremacists.

To quote President Franklin D. Roosevelt, the "Only thing we have to fear is fear itself."

Trump would have us believe that if people of color were in the majority it would mean losing the American dream, that the Constitution would no longer be the law of the land, that equality, justice and opportunity would disappear from our core values. 

I wish there was some way to convince white people that there is really nothing to fear. Those  dreams and values are universal that all men and women -- no matter what race -- cherish and hold for their families, communities and our nation.

Even though the changes are inevitable -- as CNN notes -- and most likely it will be uncomfortable. That doesn't mean it has to be turbulent if white people would just accept the colorization of our country. They need to learn to get along with a wider range of people -- something that we people of color have had to learn to do for a long time, even when it meant sometimes biting our tongues.

CN

I was at a college reunion recently, and as old college friends, we BS'd a lot. I was asked by a white friend I used to share a house with a few blocks from campus, "What was the biggest problem facing America?"

Oh, hell! I hate having to represent all the people of color in the country, I thought to myself.  But the question wasn't patronizing. It was asked in all seriousness. It didn't take long for me to answer. I said, "The truth?"

"We'd expect nothing but the truth," he said.

"White people have to learn to accept the inevitable changes that are occurring demographically and learn, that in the end, not much will change ...,: I paused ,as I tried to read his face to see if I was risking our friendship.

My friend jumped in and finished my thought: "... Except we (white guys) won't have that white privilege," he smiled.

"Right, right, right," I said in surprise. 

He gets it. His response gives me hope.

Happy MLK Day!
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