Today marked a breaking point for me. Perhaps we’ve all experienced a moment during this tumultuous election season when the weight of the rhetoric became too heavy to bear. Two headlines pushed me over the edge: one detailing the KKK’s endorsement of Donald Trump, and another reporting the arson of a black church in Mississippi, vandalized with the message “Vote Trump.”
There are countless reasons illustrating why Donald Trump lacks the qualifications for the presidency. Many individuals far more articulate than I have already laid out these arguments. I’ve mostly managed to overlook the few people I know who support him. It might seem elitist, but studies indicate that less educated individuals are gravitating towards Trump. They seem oblivious to the implications of their choice. Among my friends, many lean more conservatively than I do. We’ve engaged in rational discussions about the government’s role in financial markets, health care, and corporate governance. Most are opting for third-party candidates or abstaining from voting, while some are backing Hillary as a protest against a party that has strayed from rationality.
You’d have to be willfully ignorant to ignore the overt racism and misogyny that Trump’s campaign has unleashed. He has given voice to a deep-rooted fear of the “other”—be it race, culture, or religion. His presence has normalized abhorrent behaviors that no decent citizen would have dared to express openly before this election—shouting racial slurs or engaging in acts of violence captured on news cameras.
You can talk endlessly about tax policies or judicial appointments, but the undeniable fact remains: voting for Trump is an implicit endorsement of the ugliest manifestations of racism and sexism in contemporary society.
A memory from over a year ago has resurfaced today as I try to process my feelings. I was at a family gathering discussing plans for a trip to Washington, D.C. I expressed my hope for my children to see the White House. Holding my biracial daughter, I was met with the unsettling comment from a distant relative, “Let’s just hope we can get the White House white again!”
His face froze as he realized the inappropriate nature of his remark. I was equally stunned, grappling with the fact that this man, a physician who has treated countless children, would utter something so callous. I’d like to believe he reflected on his words, perhaps considering my black husband and our biracial children, realizing the harm his statement could inflict. Maybe he felt a moment of regret.
We stood in silence for what felt like an eternity before I made an excuse to leave. I haven’t seen him since.
Today, this memory resonates deeply with me, particularly regarding those acquaintances and distant relatives who plan to vote for Trump. Much like the words that can’t be taken back, a vote for him is a choice that cannot be reversed. It’s a choice I cannot overlook. It’s personal.
In the future, we may encounter each other again. I’ll offer a polite smile and a brief greeting, then quietly distance myself.
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In summary, the choice to support Trump is more than a political stance; it’s a reflection of deeply held beliefs that cannot be ignored. This election season has revealed uncomfortable truths about our society, and for those of us affected, the implications of these choices will resonate long after the ballots are cast.