Stop Saying Half The Nation Is Racist
By: Christyl Rivers
Tags: Racism, Culture, Sexism, Voter Suppression Laws, Elections

Stop Saying Half The Nation Is Racist

Thanks to Heather Mount on Unsplash

Who are we?

There are many articles out there pointing that despite the Biden-Harris win, half of America is still racist.

We will have to deal, and work with, and/or dismiss all those ugly, hateful people who are Trumpeteers, fascists, and bigots. Some say they can never be won, they are incorrigible. I would like to offer another possibility.

The fear is not entirely credible, since the defining characteristic of all humans is that we are all to one degree or another, racist. And sexist. And internalized. And struggling.

Although I do understand Black resentment of racism and especially dangerous, systemic, racism I simply don’t believe that one half of america is completely racist.

Other mischief is also in play.

Become anti-racist, whether we think we’re racist or not

Either we all hold this human weakness — bigotry toward the other — or none of us do. The question is not, who is racist, but who is actively anti-racist. It is the same question with sexism. If you call yourself an anti-racist, but not an anti-sexist, you have gotten exactly nowhere with your struggle for justice.

All people should be grateful, especially to Black women who turned this tide. And, we should never forget too, that if every racist person voted, we still could never hope to win hope and change, because we need voters of all colors.

It is the awareness of the cancers — plural — that we need to activate. All people of every color, sex, gender, and creed, need to address bias.

Otherism really “is”

When the system is methodically, but unconsciously, crafted for excluding others, we operate within that system like drones. Only constant, aching for understanding and stretching to reach continuing consciousness makes a difference.

We had more voters this year than ever before. Yet, we are not done.

In most elections our best national turnout is sixty percent of voters. In a mid-term election, it is more often just a forty percent turn out. That means that lots and lots of people don’t care about Trumpeteering or Black Lives Matter. They have more important things on their plate, which of course, is maddening to all who want a representative democracy.

Another, unsettling truth, is that even with this historic turn out, a huge number of people are still non-voters. Are the non-voters so hateful they refused to show? So disgusted with politics that they wanted to protest it? Or so apathetic they didn’t bother? There is also a pandemic and economic crisis on.

There are probably as many other reasons as there are individual no shows.

If nearly a third of people whose lives are directly impacted don’t vote, can we really know that their motives are hate-based?

I think not.

I think it is more likely that people are taught one lie, or another, and those lies clash upon one another and sow confusion. We are told the so and so’s are rapists, liars, looters, robbers, cheaters, lazy, selfish, elite, or whatever.

Then we are given unrelenting messages to either reinforce or undermine what we are taught. Once confused, it is probable that some people just want to ignore the whole mess and go enjoy what little beauty, or comfort, the world yet has to offer.

Even Christianity offers salvation, but isn’t is suspect when whole church’s have one color of congregants, (and largely one gender too) lining their pews? Something is definitely going on here, and it’s not hate in the pews as much as it is ignorance and apathy.

They may be singing a joyful chorus of praise, but if it leaves out our fellow voices, it is not real worship, but pretense, and piety.

Some people weren’t counted on purpose

Some ballots never got there on time. Some people didn’t have the address info, ID card, utility bill, or other documentation to be counted. Some made mistakes in sealing, or not signing, ballots precisely.

Some people who should have a say were denied one. We don’t call that voter fraud, they call it voter suppression. It’s not fair, whatever you call it.

The voting rights act was working well until repealed in 2013. This makes as much sense as stopping social distancing, or mask wearing, because it is effective in preventing illness. When something helps, you don’t stop, you keep working harder!

We also still have gerrymandering, and a whole host of ways some officials tried to curtail votes, including calls to stop counting them, even if received post-marked, by election day.

I would dare to say that more people were not counted than were, (or could be) implicated in any attempt to cheat through fraud. It what the data bears out.

Rock the vote

These are all terrible things, but I would submit to you, that for not a few voters they are HUGE turn-offs to the electoral process. Even an anti-racist, and anti-sexist might be entirely cynical to such a system.

We need to fix this stuff, and never again allow those who want your silence to suppress your right to vote, because they will try to shut it down.

We need critical thinking skills to address and to hone our anti-racist and anti-sexist muscles. And, yes, LBGTQ lives also matter. And class. And creed.

In short we need all voices. And we need to know we aren’t full of hate, but hope. It will take active and passionate efforts to rock the vote in a way that feels truly democratic.