(ThyBlackMan.com) It’s been over a month since the Presidential election and many of us are still hoping the Trump victory was simply a terrible extended nightmare. However, unfortunately the nightmare is reality and many are angry. Just about every day that we turn on the news, or check in to social media Donald Trump has said, or tweeted, something to make us wonder how we will survive four years of this dangerous circus. With is election came the overt waves of racism in ways we have not seen in decades. Many Black people, especially those that got up and voted, are angry and feel as though they may be in a situation whereby they will be looking the past of their elders in the face. This has prompted many young blacks to say “I am not my elders”.
They are determined to fight fire with fire, and many feel the time for dialog has ended. Why talk any further…what is that going to solve? Many associate voting for Trump, regardless of the reason, as agreeing that racism, sexism and many other evils are okay. However, as a mere 13% of the population we must realize it is 
important to utilize all of our assets… yes that includes dialog. We aren’t talking to the staunch racist waving a confederate flag that will never change. We must reach out to the poor, and confused people that though it was a bad choice really thought they were voting against the establishment. Honestly, everyone that voted for Hillary Clinton did not like nor trust her.
Van Jones in a CNN Analyst that has been very out spoken about Donald Trump, the election and the aftermath. In an interview on The Daily Show Trevor Noah posed to him a question regarding reaching out, and dialog that is the dilemma of many Black Americans.
“How many times do I have to be doing the right thing?” he asked. “So I’ve got to be the one voting for Hillary and then I see white people be like, ‘I’ll take a chance on Trump.’ I’ve got to be the one who is now extending a hand, listening and talking to people who I feel like would not do the same for me. Why do you feel the need for yourself to be reaching out? Because you could just say no, this country is racist, I don’t care, I’m out. But how do you justify it to yourself? Why engage?”
This question, in my opinion, was the best of the interview and very easily spoke the black viewer. Many of us now question the high ground. Too many of us feel the racial climate of this country will not change and the election of Donald Trump just gave license for the evil of this country to surface. There are many young people that see no need for hope. But, Van Jones answer was more than enough for me. His answer was what I needed, and hoped that others were inspired.
“How can you look at a Nelson Mandela, who went through much worse than I’m ever gonna go through dealing with much worse people and he didn’t give up. They shot King in the face the year I was born because he was trying to fight for these ideals,” he said. “I have one bad election and some bad tweets and quit? I can’t do that. And I will tell you: You cannot, especially this younger generation. They can’t quit either. I am a ninth generation American,” Jones continued. “I’m the first one in my family born with all my rights. My relatives didn’t quit and I’m not going either and neither should these young people. We’re just getting started.”
No we can’t give up. We must be who our ancestors died for us to be…strong, resilient, wise, and resourceful. We must use all the tools afforded to us, and dialog is a vital part of movement. It’s not just about the fight, but what will be left once the fighting is done. Movement has many parts and some of us will be engaged in dialog in community, courtrooms, government, schools, any place you can think of. Sometimes the dialog will be scholarly and seated…other times it will be in protest on the streets, but it must be had. I agree with Van Jones… we cannot give up. He is right, compared to how far our people have come we are just getting started. There comes a time when we must stand up and contribute to the continuation of a movement so many before us began. Quitting is never an option.
Staff Writer; Christian Starr
May connect with this sister over at Facebook; https://www.facebook.com/christian.pierre.9809 and also Twitter; http://twitter.com/MrzZeta.
