Why I Do Not Support All Black Women
By: J. Brown
Tags: Blackwomenmatter, Trumpism, Black Women, BlackLivesMatter

As the Trump era [prayerfully] comes to an end, the manifestations of who Trump came to be still remain. When we look back on Trump’s presidency and analyze the administration’s appointment of Justice Amy Coney Barrett, the lack of economic support during a global pandemic, and the support of police brutality while halting police investigations, we would be remiss to neglect the peculiar right-wing interest of funding Black women for Trump.

As a young, Black woman, it brings me a lot of joy to call another fellow Black woman, “sis.” The cultural term innately establishes trust, unity, and implies that no matter what, I will always have a fellow Black woman’s back. We can argue, we can disagree, you can even be dead wrong, but I will never not support you because you are my sister, right? Wrong. When using this term, what worries me is our cultural love being so open and inviting, that it could actually jade our loyalty and assume good intentions in someone who looks like us, but is not for us. Many of us in the Black community have heard the saying, “all skinfolk ain’t kinfolk.” I challenge us to take an extra step of precaution before we invite just anybody to brunch and partake in bottomless mimosas.

During this election year, I blatantly noticed support for Trump coming from Black women running for office. I am not here to say being Black and Republican don’t mix, but I am here to say that being a Black woman who believes in Trump, does not. Trumpism is rooted in political ideologies that do not work for the collective advancement of Black women.

Kim Klacik, a far right Republican, was endorsed by Trump to replace the late Elijah Cummings (D) congressional seat in Maryland. Kim had no chance of winning the 7th district seat, but she did outperform the last Republican by 12,000 votes. As a novice Republican, she secured 28.1% of the vote. Despite her loss, Kim continues to use her platform that fuels a severe lack of concern for Black women. On November 13, Kim released two videos on Twitter explicitly saying COVID-19 is not a government problem. In fact, having restrictions should not exist because it hurts businesses and people should be responsible for themselves.

Black women are often the primary caretakers who sacrifice their health to care for loved ones, all the while maintaining work. Klacik suggests if you have an underlying health condition, you should simply stay away from people. Her opinions negate the challenges many Black women experience related to: healthcare affordability and accessibility, economic insecurity, and a caregiver role. She proceeds to say “sorry not sorry,” in the following video.

As much as I would like to support every single Black woman on this Earth, I cannot support a Black woman on the pretenses of race and gender. As a Black woman, a community organizer, and a researcher, I want us to take note of the right-wing tactic overtly placed before us this election. The right proudly endorsed a Black woman to secure as much of the Black vote as possible in a predominantly Black district. I encourage us to take a deeper dive and elect candidates who are committed to supporting Black women. My sisters, we cannot afford to support every Black woman because it will, and in some instances already has, cost us our children, our parents, our savings, and our lives.

I do not support all Black women. Order your meal to go, “sis.”

Sorry not sorry.