The Problem
And an answer from Frederick Douglass
There has never been a false claim proven more wrong more times in more ways than white supremacy.
It’s a real bummer. Of course, the reason we have to keep proving that particular lie wrong is because so many parts of our government, legal system, education, culture, etc. were constructed to protect it.
There was this one hopeful moment. Back about fifteen years ago. Most phones had been replaced with smart phones and for the first time ever we all had access to all the available information. Obama was president. The future looked so bright.
But…
Having all the information meant a whole lot of truths came out. A whole lot of opinions got proven very wrong. And a whole lot of our government, legal system, education, culture, etc. were up for a serious challenge.
So, what happens when a society built to protect a lie is forced to face the truth? I’d love to tell you the truth wins out, but so far that hasn’t been the case. Instead, our leadership refuses to relinquish power, they devalue truth, make us re-fight all their old fights, engulf us all in their old fears and imprison us in a world restricted by their limited imaginations.
The old guard has become the ancient guard and I know they’ve dragged us back in time because Black people and women and queer folks are all fighting for the rights we had just 15 minutes ago. Also we have to keep a lookout for Russia and communism—and don’t forget to bomb Iran! But then again, don’t worry too much because the ancient democrats will eventually begin to slightly disagree with the republicans—if you re-elect them for their 75th term and text them $5.
Even their moral panics are stuck on repeat. On a long enough timeline, I guess both Black and trans kids are actually big scary men coming for your women so we must segregate them from our sports teams—and for white Jesus’ sake, keep them out of our bathrooms!
