Politics as Usual: Focus on the Goal at Hand

2020 has been a strange year.  From the untimely deaths of icons, to COVID-19, to earthquakes in North Carolina.  Despite the strangeness of the year, for those politically inclined, we have an opportunity and obligation to vote 45 (and others at the state levels) out of office.  Politically inclined citizens must choose a side.    That said, publicly besmirching candidates at this point in time is counterproductive.  Some time ago, I read a book regarding leadership.  It stated that leaders should praise in public, while criticizing in private.  This principle can be applied to the political world.  Supporters of 45 will defend him at all costs—despite his inability to lead. You know why?  They recognize the power in the Office of the President and do not want to lose that power.  Now behind closed doors, I find it hard to believe that the educated segment of his base of supporters are not criticizing his administration.  To get him out of office, however, Democrats will need to unify behind the Democratic nominees for President and Vice President. 

The time to openly criticize (potentially dividing the party) was during the Democratic Primaries.  This was the time to point out inconsistencies in a candidate’s record, or in their personal life, or to otherwise express a grievance.  That time has passed. Despite living in the information age, many people have not educated themselves about the candidates or the political process.  So, they are more impressionable and politically naïve than those who are more informed.  When informed (or semi-informed) folks make Facebook, or Instagram posts or share negative articles besmirching nominees, or suggesting that people not vote, the impact will hurt the Goal of voting 45 out of office.  At this point, Biden is the Democratic Presidential candidate.  And, as of August 11, 2020, Biden selected Senator Kamala Harris as his Vice-Presidential candidate.  They may not be your first choices, but they are what we have.  Again, for the sake of winning, this is not the time to criticize candidates for decisions made 20 years ago (at least not publicly).  The goal may not be divisiveness.  Some believe criticizing candidates will help them reach a euphoric state of “wokeness.”  Some believe it is helpful to the Goal, but it most certainly is not.  It detracts from the Goal.

Biden’s selection of Harris as his VP candidate is historically significant.  Women have been ignored, for many years, and are still underpaid and treated unfairly in many areas of life.  In fact, women (of any race) were not allowed to participate in the democratic process until August 18, 1920—almost 100 years ago to the day.   Sure, many women have had successful political careers.  But the White House has evaded women.   In 1972, Shirley Chisolm, a Black woman, became the first African American woman to campaign for the Democratic Party presidential nomination.  Although unsuccessful, she was a trailblazer, nonetheless.  Her campaign moved the needle for women, even if just a hair. In 2016, more than 40 years after Ms. Chisolm, Hillary Clinton moved the needle even more as she won the Democratic Party presidential nomination. However, she lost the election to 45.  But a short four years later, we are only three months from potentially having a Black woman in the White House as VP.  Politics aside, this would be a huge win for women.  And, with her relative youth (55 years old), she could be well positioned for a run at the top spot in a few years.

Outside of obvious political slights, Black women in particular have been mistreated, underappreciated and overlooked in every facet of life.  Yet, Black women move forward as leaders of households, business, sports, law, medicine, education and every other area.  And the Federal Government has been on notice of this disparate treatment for years.  Lest we forget about the Civil Rights Act of 1964.  Although it is widely considered a civil rights bill to help level the playing field for Black folks in employment, it also includes language aimed to level the playing field for women.   

The truth is, women have to be more qualified, experienced and have to walk and talk a certain way.  They have to dress a certain way.  They are criticized for being too emotional.  A woman who is passionate and firm, is often labeled and called derogatory names.  Sadly, many of the unfair critiques come from other women, not just chauvinistic men.  For a quick, high profile example of this theory in action, think about the 2016 Presidential Election.  Some people criticized Hillary Clinton, clearly one of the most qualified candidates—male or female—to ever enter the Presidential race simply because of her gender, not based on any legitimate, non-gender related reason.    And others refused to consider her because they believed a woman could not effectively operate in the highest office.  Seriously, she lost to an unqualified, uncouth, racist, reality star.  Now, if that same qualified woman is “Black,” her struggle intensifies tenfold.  Regardless of your political affiliation, Senator Kamala Harris is a Black woman.  She attended an HBCU and is a member of a Divine nine organization.  You cannot lose sight of the forest for the trees.  Remember the Goal, which is to unseat 45.

I still remember when Barack Obama was elected as the President of the United States in 2008.  I was so proud of him.  But I was also proud for us, as Black men.  For members of the Silent Generation and Baby Boomers who lived through the Civil Rights Movement, I could only imagine how they must have felt.  In the years since his election, Obama has become an even bigger symbol of hope for the Black community, and particularly Black men.    There was a time not too terribly long ago that a Black man becoming the President was not possible.  Hell, we were fighting to just be able to ride on the same buses as White people.  Post-Obama, Black parents can tell their children that they can be anything they want to be—even holding the highest office in the U.S.  

Should Senator Harris succeed in November, I have little doubt that her impact would be just as big for Black girls and women.  This event would unequivocally move the needle.  During a time when Black Women are under attack by law enforcement (RIP Breonna Taylor, Sandra Bland and many others), this would be a nice win for Black women.  Lord knows they deserve it.  In the meantime, those who are politically inclined should remember that she will be under attack from 45.  So, at least for the next three months, we should think twice about the impact of “woke” posts regarding Harris because of the impact the divisive comments could have on the ultimate Goal: Unseating 45.

 

Peace