Dear America, Donald Trump Winning The Presidential Election Is Not A License For Racism [Opinion]
It is nearly a week after the United States presidential election, yet many Americans are still coming to grips with Donald Trump winning. Donald Trump, the president-elect, is a hard reality for the 60 million people, which helped the Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton take the popular vote. Americans are faced with having the most polarizing figure to ever hold the presidency.
As things begin to settle, it is the actions of several Donald Trump supporters that threaten to place an asterisk on an astounding underdog story. To those supporters, Donald Trump winning the presidential election have somehow given them a reason to be racist. There have been various reports detailing racist behavior going on throughout America.
One of the most shocking stories about racist acts was reported by Complex Magazine. According to Complex, the Klu Klux Klan was slated to hold a Donald Trump victory rally in a North Carolina town.
Video shows people smashing the windows of cars and businesses during anti-Donald Trump protest in Portland, Oregon. https://t.co/VSJWduyyZA pic.twitter.com/lY9xv5ZnRZ
— ABC News (@ABC) November 11, 2016
Another heinous act took place on the campus of Canisius College, where The Buffalo News cited that a black doll was found with a noose on its neck. The phrase, “Make America White Again” was also found on the college campus. The message that it sends to people is that the days of a united front are over. Especially on college campuses where generally you find the most open-minded people.
Other college campuses were the sites for racially charged incidents that involved Donald Trump supporters as well. It has created an environment where some parents of prospective college students are rethinking where they will send their children.
Perhaps one of the most vile displays came when Donald Trump supporters hurled fireworks into a crowd (courtesy of the St. Louis Post Dispatch) of protesters in St. Louis.
Incidents have not solely been done by Donald Trump supporters. Trump supporters have also been under attack in places (courtesy of Daily Mail) such as Connecticut and New York. Protests in Portland, Oregon have turned contentious, leaving over 70 people arrested, along with at least 1 million in damages to the city.
Protesters are also taking an umbrage to Donald Trump getting elected in major cities such as Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York. Some of those protests, like what is happening in Chicago have been peaceful. Others have ended horribly in gunfire
Why America?
Donald Trump winning the presidential election is not justification for racism. Why show out in the ugliest way possible?
Why must other American citizens defend, even dismiss the ignorant behavior as people being caught up in the emotions of Donald Trump getting elected?
These are some difficult times as parents have no choice but to explain to their children about what is taking place in America. It is almost a guarantee that many of those parents and their children have wondered aloud how did the country get so divided.
People are stumped while looking for answers.
5 arrested after thousands protest downtown Chicago over Donald Trump's election victory https://t.co/PjlxfcLzqX pic.twitter.com/dFmSFAe6yR
— Chicago Tribune (@chicagotribune) November 10, 2016
Sadly, the America that is on display has existed for centuries. The incidents that are coming to the light in the wake of Donald Trump winning the presidential election have long taken place. They have been confined to small pockets of America, with several of these actions happening in plain sight.
Those who are a minority experience racial occurrences day in and day out. It can take place when a person is simply applying for employment, or doing what all Americans do by shopping. Voter suppression laws are put in place, along with the several ordinances which primarily only affect minorities are decided on with great regularity. Unfortunately, the America that has shown it’s unattractive side has always existed.
Anti-Donald Trump protests will continue to take place, as will those who have gathered to celebrate a Donald Trump victory. What needs to cease are the senseless acts of racism and riots that have taken place since Trump has been elected. Dear America, we are a better nation than this. If electing Donald Trump was about making America great again, we as Americans are off to a rocky start.
[Featured Image by Mark Wilson/Getty Images]
