By Victoria Christopher Murray
When people first began calling for Biden to step down, Black women screamed, “No!” I had a childhood friend, a white guy, ask me ‘Why not?’, and I said, “Because America will never elect a Black woman.”
As the campaign progressed, I began to think that I was wrong. Kamala Harris ran a flawless campaign, close to perfect, and America appeared to be behind her. Who raises $1 billion that quickly? Who has that many volunteers knocking on doors? Who steps up in that short a period of time to introduce herself to America, plan a kick-ass convention, prepare for a debate and prosecute the case, and travel to three or four cities a day?
What crushes my heart, is that my initial thought was right — America will never elect a Black woman.
Even if that means that thousands of people, including US citizens will be deported. Even if that means that there will now be a national stop and frisk that will put every Black and Brown person in danger every time we leave our homes. Even if that means that women will die because white men who failed biology in high school have control over women’s bodies.
I’d hoped that this wasn’t America. I’d hoped that my neighbors and the people who looked like me cared about me. But what I discovered is that how can they care about me when they don’t care about themselves?
Because Project 2025 comes after all of us. If you aren’t a wealthy white Christian male, you will lose.
But sometimes people don’t care about that. Just as long as Black and Brown people are losing…they’re fine with making oligarchs more wealthy.
The first time Trump was elected, it was a fluke. But now we know…this is America’s heart. This is who this country is and who it wants to be.
My heart breaks for the names of people I know. The people who are now at risk of being arrested for no reason: the Obamas and the Clintons, the Bidens…Liz Cheney and the people who worked for Trump’s administration. Hundreds, probably thousands will have to find a new home.
My heart breaks for what is about to be taken from us, what is about to happen.
My heart breaks and breaks and breaks.
But one thing I do know for certain—not a Black man nor a Black woman can be blamed. We showed up, even when everyone else didn’t.