My. My. My.

Before Joe Biden acquiesced to requests for him to suspend his candidacy for a second term, the biggest trending story about a Black woman calling the police for help and instead being in shot in the face by an officer of the law. That’s what I was preparing to write about when the news hit that Kamala Harris may be the front runner for the Democratic Party. I mention this because I hope it adds some context for my initial response to this new political development. 

You see, I was preparing to write about how often Black women don’t receive help when they ask. I was about to write about how the incidents of Black women being treated violently are both underreported but also lack the same advocacy that occurs when unarmed Black men are killed. I was about to write about how often we have to depend on ourselves, our small circles and hope to God that we aren’t disappointed or betrayed- this time. 

And so when I got on the internet and said “I don’t know if this country is ready and I’m super nervous about the vitriol that may be leveled at us over the next few months, and that even if she wins- I’m still concerted about what that means for her and for us” … those concerns don’t come from some arbitrary cynicism. And yet too many responses treat it that way:

“Don’t talk like that.”

“You must believe.” 

“We have to just be positive” 

“Stop giving this thinking energy” 

I’m so tired of my real concerns being brushed aside as if I am the problem and the way I’m processing these events in light of history and my own political knowledge is unsubstantiated bitterness. Because I can’t afford to live in a world of uninterrogated positivity. 

Now, let me be clear. I am voting for Kamala (and perhaps some of those responses were fear that I might not). Some part of me is stunned that it’s even a real possibility. My grandmother became an AKA in the late 1940s and I can tell you with certainty that she never dreamed an AKA could be President of the US. I mean this is wild. The little girl in me is thrilled that it’s increasingly possible that I could vote for a Black woman! I dont even know how many more decades I thought we would have to go after the intense reaction to Hillary. This was not on my bingo card, okay!?

AND 

I have to hold that with what I know about the world. And what I know is that Obama campaigned for a long ass time before he became a viable candidate but Kamala has three months. What I know is that there are all kinds of people who would vote for a white woman or a Black man but will not vote for a Black woman because of that very specific intersection. What I know is that we have left the era of dog whistles and Black women are going to have to brace ourselves for the vitriol that is about to come our way. And I know that Obama’s presidency wasn’t some racial utopia. Dont yall remember “you lie!”. Don’t you remember the comic strips of Michelle? Don’t you remember them halting and stalling his policies and projects? Remember the backlash to confederate statues and flags coming down? Remember the massacre at Mother Emmanuel? 

I cannot imagine what is coming down the pipeline for a Black woman to have to contend with and how that will intimately impact so many of us. And I can’t just sweep that under the rug. I have to deal with it. I have to look at it square in the face. I have to be ready for it. Because I think it’s important to size up the enemy. I think it’s important to look it in the face and see “I see you” and I’m moving forward anyway. I am not impressed by willful ignorance or rose-colored positivity. 

Can we win? Yes.

Will we win? I sure hope so. 

Is the work going to require more than your vote? Absolutely. 

I need you to a knowledge how difficult this might be. I need you to recognize the hits Black women might be taking over the next three months. I need you to look racism/sexism square in the face and call it what it is when you see it. I need you to be prepared for it. Because the fight won’t only be at the ballot box for us. We are still fighting for our lives, for our dignity. 

Let me leave you with one metaphor. In 2020 there are a lot of Marches and there were a lot of Protests (I’m capitalizing these for emphasis). The two have come to mean different things. For a March, typically all you need is some water and a sign. You know you’re beginning point and ending point. There is often a police presence to keep e we gone safe. Permits have been secured. And the only real goal is perhaps to raise awareness or show the number of people who care about the issue. But a protest is different. 

For a protest, you need to bring water and perhaps a sign. But you also need milk to pour down your eyes in case of getting sprayed. You also need some cash or someone outside the protest with some cash in case you need to get bailed out of jail. Many people have a “know your rights” card or pamphlet. Why? Because a protest doesn’t have the same “guarantee” of safety or protection. In fact, it’s assumed that you are going into battle and you need to have your tools ready. 

That’s how I feel about this political news. I am not suggesting that a win is impossible or that we shouldn’t be hopeful. I am saying it’s important to prepare for the fight. It's important not to dismiss Black women- our concerns or our hopes.

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Let me add that we dont actually know what happens next. But I can tell you what would be important… It is important that major democrat constituencies rally behind Kamala or a single candidate. It is important that an energetic democrat machine goes into overdrive because three months to elect anyone is FAST. Fundraising and yes marketing is going to be crucial. It’s important that delegates at the DNC are clearly behind a candidate. Will the pick for VP change things one way or another? Factions, splits, close calls, etc could all spell more chaos, and we dont have a lot of time to recover from chaos. So for today, we live in the questions. But soon we will have answers, and we’ll have to do our best to see our way through the fog to the policies we believe in and the people we are fighting for.

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Please forgive typos as I wrote most of this on my phone in the car. Thank you for allowing me to be human.