A Black Woman's Post-Election Brain Dump
Alright, the presidential election is finally over. The white guy who isn’t the worst is president-elect. No one is excited about him. People filled the streets to declare that ol’ boy wasn’t going to be back in the Oval Office. It’s a weird juxtaposition to Obama’s election. Or even ol’ boy’s four years ago. People were excited about their candidate. Now we just don’t want the worst thing.
Which, it’s also funny to see all these white folks be like “yay, it’s finally over.” First off, y’all elected/let this dude get elected in the first place. And this is a dude who unabashedly takes what he wants. So the fact that y’all think we’re in the clear and that he isn’t going to just TAKE the White House again is a reflection of your continued disconnect with reality. But folks of color/oppressed groups are used to white folks/groups in power pulling the okie-doke. We stay ready. I won’t breathe a real sign of relief until the new guy is sworn in.
No, I’m not jovial. I don’t have time or energy to be jovial about some bullshit. I feel better. I was actively making plans to leave the country, and now I feel like I have a little bit of time. I mean, I didn’t want to go. My whole family is here, and most of them are about to be right back here in Michigan. But when the country repeatedly tells you they don’t want you, it’s hard to continue to invest your talents in it.
But I’m giving y’all at least a few more years. Plus, I’m not sure which countries would let me bring my dog with me. Priorities.
I didn’t want to write about the election. However, I’m glad my mailman will have an easier job now that he doesn’t have to deliver all those mailers I immediately recycled. I said as much to him. “You have no idea,” he exasperatedly stated. I’m glad that when I watch YouTube clips of things getting deep-cleaned, I won’t have to suffer through campaign ads. I’m glad that the EO that eliminated my job is probably getting reversed.
I’m glad we’re about to get into Starbucks red cup controversy season. It’s nice to be annoyed by something new, like everyone putting up Christmas directions as if Thanksgiving doesn’t exist. I’m still scared of cops. But I’m a little less afraid of regular white men on the street.
I caught myself being ready for snow a couple days ago. I’ll immediately regret it whenever it comes, but that’s part of being a Michigander. My Norway maple has turned a brilliant shade of yellow, and I spent time mulching leaves and pruning things in the sunshine. It’s hard to stay mad under a clear blue sky.
I rode my bike for the first time with my best friend. My butt hurts, my legs are sore, and it was so much fun - even when I didn’t think I was going to make it up a hill. She cheered me on all the way, this black woman who rides 50 miles for fun. As we rode through my black neighborhood, people smiled and waved. She remarked on how wonderful black neighborhoods are, and how she misses living in one. It certainly brings me joy, peace, and a sense of safety every day.
I’m looking forward to full houses during Thanksgiving and Christmas, especially during this pandemic. I’m hoping my dog gets along with my sisters’ dogs. I’m excited to give gifts to my niblings* and watch them open them.
I never had much time to get too worked up about 2020. Or maybe I never bothered. It’s not the first time life seemed to change dramatically every month. I experienced major loss. I’m still sad some days. I miss my grandmas, each of them a total badass in their own way. So I used an old cookbook my Grandma Prather gave me for Christmas in ‘08. I used my Grandma Mac’s fish serving plate she gave me when I was still a kid. And my aunts are sending me a video about my Grandma Jackson’s career in the LA public library system - a black woman who had to fight her whole career for a place and a promotion.
When you have a legacy this strong, it’s hard to get bumped off your path.
*Niblings: Siblings’ children, gender neutral.
Song of the Week: God Bless Us All - N.E.R.D.