Fall/Autumn is my favorite season. In fact, it’s been scientifically proven to be the best of all seasons. And for many reasons.
We’re saying goodbye to oppressive summer heat and welcoming cooler, chillier temperatures. That is unless you’re in Houston. Here, when fall comes, we make way for a little less oppressive heat. Still, it’s an improvement.
And it’s not only about the weather. During the Fall, all the chill fall festivals are in full effect; the kids are back in school and out of the house; and it seems all of society does a reset, so whatever your jam (sports, music, binge-watching shows), fall introduces a slew of new offerings.
But that natural chill we feel comes every fall cannot and must not be expressed in our political engagement efforts. Just the opposite. From now through the first week of November, we’ve got to turn up the heat.
Turn Up The Heat
The high from the Democratic National Convention is wearing down. The initial excitement about “the switch” (Harris replacing Biden at the head of the Democratic ticket) has mellowed out. But there’s even more work to do between now and Nov. 5th
As our Forever FLOTUS, Michelle Obama, stated in her DNC speech, we know the attacks and lies and misinformation meant to discourage and dissuade us from voting Harris into the White House are coming (though we didn’t expect Janet Jackson to add to the BS). And as fickle as the social media public is, lies and misinformation can do tremendous damage.
Trump and his VP pick, J.D. Vance, are already at it.
GOP Attacks
Even though Trump continues to travel across the country and brag about how he ended Roe v. Wade (i.e. ending a woman’s right to make health decisions about her own body) and JD Vance sent a letter to Congress to push for all-out bans on women’s reproductive rights, the pair are both now saying, they’ll be “good for women” and women’s reproductive rights. They’re spitting this lie even though their main campaign donors, main voting block and homies who authored Project 2025 (which seeks to go even deeper in banning women from exercising their reproductive rights) all expect and know that Trump and Vance will enact a national policy that strips women of the agency to make decisions about their own bodies.
And this is just the tip of the iceberg. They’ll play the same game for every position Trump and Vance hold that is unpopular with the vast majority. Trump is already on record as saying, “Say anything long enough and loud enough and the people will believe you.” He’s counting on the people being that dumb and gullible.
But the main barrage of misinformation will be directed at attacks on Harris… because Republicans absolutely love attacking and belittling and demeaning intelligent, strong, accomplished and ambitious Black women.
Let’s Work
So, as Nov. 5 draws closer, our energy has to increase, as must our work galvanizing everyone we know to vote as if Black life, women’s rights, Black history, democracy, and so much more depend on it.
We already know, nothing is “too low” for the GOP. Their playbook consists of 1) voter suppression, 2) solicited Russian interference, 3) AI tomfoolery, 4) straight lies and misinformation, 5) court/judge stacking, 6) media messaging buy-outs, 7) social media shenanigans, and 8) character assassination. And that’s on a good day. As the Harris/Walz ticket continues to gain momentum, and Trump and crew get more nervous, they’ll also get more desperate and more committed to disrupting things by any means necessary.
Plus, you have to remember that Trump is fighting to stay out of the crosshairs of courtroom accountability. If and when he loses on Nov. 5, Trump will have way more than his current 34 felony convictions. He’s got to win to destroy those remaining cases. He’s got to win to pay back all those foreign entities and corporate thugs who have infused his coffers with cash. He’s no good to them when he loses in November, and all bets are off. He’s a marked man. So, he will throw everything humanly possible at the Harris/Walz ticket.
We’ve got to match and even exceed their energy.
So, enjoy all the chill parts of Fall. But leave that chill at the house. We’ve got serious work to do. And only a fired-up and hot political Autumn will allow us to taste a much-needed Nov. 5 victory.
