I don’t pretend to be able to wipe out racism and xenophobia in my social circles, but I can call it out.
On August 20, 2024, Michelle Obama gave a fantastic speech at night two of the Democratic Convention. In it she said many poignant things, but the quotes I’m thinking about today are, “We know folks are going to do everything they can to distort [Kamala Harris’s] truth” and “for years, [Donald Trump] tried to get people to fear [Barack and me].” Those words sparked my memory.
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I remember when the morally devoid pundits among us attacked First Lady Michelle Obama for wearing sleeveless clothing at the White House.
And I remember how they didn’t mutter a similar word of disapproval when Melania did the same damn thing.
I remember how when Trump won the Electoral College in 2016 (and only the Electoral College, I feel duty bound to remind the world) they delighted that Melania was going to “make the White House classy again.”
The reason I remember those things so clearly is because members of my extended family said them or shared them on Facebook. I was disgusted, ashamed, and appalled by the double standard and obvious racism then. But I was naive, even though I thought that impossible at my advanced age.
I understand now that racism isn’t obvious to everyone. I don’t have the will or the energy to discern what’s in every person’s heart, but I saw something today shared by a newer member of my extended family that was so viley racist and xenophobic, I can’t get it off my mind.
Like Laura Loomer’s disgusting remarks, the intent was so grossIy obvious I think even Marjorie Taylor Greene would call it out.
Which has me asking myself if I can stay silent.
I cannot.
I think some people are so isolated from others’ perspectives they don’t know when something is racist, and it’s up to others to state it for the record.
It’s hard to assign ignorance to the family member who posted the meme when malice seems to be his modus operandi, but it is entirely possible that someone I love saw it and laughed quietly in ignorance without fully comprehending the depravity of its presumptions.
So in the hopes a single witness to that “joke” is still reachable, I have to say: it is racist and xenophobic to suggest a group of people are committing crimes simply because they’re from somewhere you are not.
If racism is what you choose, that’s your burden. But know that racism and xenophobia will not be welcome or tolerated here. Ever.