Last updated on July 17th, 2023 at 09:05 pm
*The following is an opinion column by R Muse*
This column has referenced the William Shakespeare quote from Romeo and Juliet, “A rose by any other name would smell as sweet,” on more than one occasion to demonstrate that a label cannot conceal what something is at its core. By now a few Americans likely comprehend that Donald J. Trump is inherently racist towards people of color, but no matter how ‘sweet’ the relabeling of his campaign message, he is still inherently racist.
In an attempt to trick African Americans into believing the television celebrity is really on their side and uniquely equipped to solve all their woes, the Donald is in the midst of a “minority outreach” to the African American community; even after anointing an avowed white nationalist as his campaign’s CEO. The truth is that Trump’s minority outreach is a ploy to solidify his racist bona fides with the white supremacist sect and attempt to soften the glaring racism among non-committed white voters and he’s doing it by insulting Black Americans. As New York Times columnists Charles Blow and Washington Post’s Eugene Washington said, Trump’s “outreach is to solely to white people,” not African Americans.
In fact, Mr. Blow was very straightforward and very correct in describing Trump’s dog-whistle racism labeled a “minority outreach.” He said:
“It is the most insidious kind of bigotry…the kind that says I will knock you down while I pretend to pick you up. I’m not talking to you [Black person]; I’m talking to the [white guy] behind you over your shoulder. It’s the kind of bigotry that says I’m urinating on you and telling you to dance in the rain. This is an insult to all people of color, both black, Hispanic, and otherwise, because he is using us as pawns to get to you [white people]. You do not get an out. Know the guy was a bigot yesterday. He’s a bigot today. He will be a bigot tomorrow, and if you vote for him, you’re voting for a bigot. That’s it.”
Blow was also right in saying that there are no African Americans taking Trump’s “minority outreach” seriously: “the only people taking it seriously are white people.” One might add that those most taking it seriously are white people ensconced in main stream media.
Washington Post columnist Eugene Robinson concurred with Charles Blow and was only a tad less blunt. Robinson said for one thing that if Trump was sincere about an outreach to Black voters, he would not have turned down “numerous invitations to speak to African American voters directly.” Instead, Trump’s phony outreach has included speaking only to white voters.
Robinson rightly assessed Trump’s real motive as telling white people that “Look, I care about African Americans too, in my own totally inappropriate, insulting and condescending way. I care about them, so I’m not really a racist and therefore you can vote for me.” However, it doesn’t take a genius to comprehend that everything Trump is saying in his “outreach” message is a monumental insult to Blacks, fallacious to a new level, and a nod to white supremacists that their hero agrees with everything bad white racists believe about African Americans.
The gist of Trump’s “outreach” speeches to African Americans, those delivered solely to groups of white people is: You’re stupid, your schools suck, you live in poverty, you’re lazy, you’re inherently violent, and your communities are a breeding ground for your miserable worthless lives; “So what the Hell do you have to lose?”
Trump is likely too engrossed in, or convinced by, his own sophistry to comprehend that African Americans are well aware of his racist history and devotion to the Republican policies and agendas that have destroyed their jobs, underfunded their schools, and rewarded police that gun them down with malice. They are also cognizant of the fact that while Trump is “reaching out to African Americans” as a demonstration that his is not a racist, he appointed a white nationalist hero to run his campaign and regularly shares memes from white supremacists on his social media accounts.
Say for a minute that Donald Trump does not have a racist history or is not dependent on white supremacists and nationalists as a solid base; he does not offer even one policy recommendation or agenda to assist the people he claims are suffering and desperately need help that only Donald Trump can provide. Instead, he proffers precisely the same Republican policies that destroys jobs, rewards wealth, puts more guns on the streets, and keeps inner city schools underfunded. Contrast Trump’s typically Republican proposals with former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s proposals that address all of the issues plaguing not just African Americans, but all minorities and white working Americans.
It is little wonder African Americans are not enamored with a racist, bigoted, and fascist television celebrity named Donald Trump and why he will never earn their support no matter the phony “outreach” of a typical Republican who, as Charles Blow said “was urinating on them and telling them to dance in the rain.” It doesn’t matter how much outreach Trump makes to African Americans, or how often his campaign claims he is not a racist because he is talking about minorities; a racist by any other name still smells like a stinking racist and nothing Donald Trump can possibly do will change the fact he, like his base and establishment Republicans, is a racist.
Born in the South, raised in the Mid-West and California for a well-rounded view of America; it doesn't look good.
Former minister, lifelong musician, Mahayana Zen-Buddhist.
- Opinion: Lock Them All Up. Trump’s DOJ Violated U.S. Law By Ignoring His Crimes - Fri, Oct 22nd, 2021
- Opinion: The House Select Committee Can Avoid the DOJ and Arrest Steve Bannon - Mon, Oct 18th, 2021
- Opinion: Steve Bannon Belongs in Prison For Planning Another Violent Coup - Wed, Oct 6th, 2021
