E notes Women on the Rise

The Trick

Today’s social-political climate is not that of pre-Barack Obama’s election as President.

In fact, in retrospect, it seems like a different era. Obama slid into the White House on the notion that we as a nation had arrived as a country free of the bias that had created the racism of its past. Sure, we knew that some people as individuals remained racist. We could handle that. Even when we stood by observing the Republican Party publicly reject over and over again any and all legislature Obama sought to pass because he was Black. Still, we believed in the American ultimate goal of, “one nation, under God . . . where all men are created equal.” He was elected for a second term. We believed that America would step up and demonstrate to the world and itself that it had indeed advanced passed the clandestine racism that lived in the pores of the system where it bore itself deeply hidden in crevices that only showed itself vividly in the areas often not traveled by the middle class. We thought that we could beat the system that was never meant to include those outside the mainstream that looked like the men who had written the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights. The path was paved, the door was opened. We believed that America would elect its first woman president. Instead, ‘they’ chose Trump.

The Backdrop

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African American women took position front and center and drove the vote for Hillary Clinton and though devastated by Hillary’s loss, Black women emerged victorious establishing themselves as the one consistent segment of the population that delivered their vote for the Democrats. Shocked and even offended by the idea that Black women dare point it out, white women failed to grasp what was really on hand for them to gain from what Black women had done. Black women are dependable. Let us mention the vote that they continued to bring in the various state elections helping Democratic candidates to beat their Republican opponents after Trump’s win.

The takeaway is that ‘you can count on Black women registered voters.’ Biden addressed it after his victory and made BW a promise. America has emerged talking more about identity within the context of what makes us different rather than what makes us one. The labels identify us by gender, race, sexual proclivity, and party affiliation creating a major conclave in the fabric of American politics which spills over into the social and economic sectors of life affecting everyone worldwide. Then the reversal of ‘Roe vs. Wade’ actually happened. Women’s voices and actions have grown, and women candidates are running in greater numbers than ever in America’s history and doing so while emphasizing their gender. Women are fed up!

The Siege

As the headlines screamed of the sexual harassment and abuse at the workplace women have gained confidence and a sense of empowerment propelling them to move forward in a world that is not accepting of them as equal citizens. Note, our fight has never been against our men, we fight for equality period. During the women’s suffrage movement to gain the right to vote, Black women made it very clear that we were fighting for the right for our men to also be granted the ‘right to vote.’

And Black women are not going to stand in the background and be usurped of their moment in history to take the lead in demonstrating the unique brilliance that is ours. The fact that we have always had to be independent, have worked alongside our men, our parents, and children; have worked full time while attending school, have worked as domestics cooking, cleaning, and taking care of other peoples’ children, that we endured a history of slavery having been denied the opportunity and or choice to fall in love, marry and have children with whom we desired has gifted us a tremendous ability to overcome and survive. We have learned to run and manage households on bare budgets, feed our families, and shower them with love. Yes, Black women rise. We are poised to lead and most important to do what Black women do best— to express love and compassion. We remain endeared to our people.

The End Game

We can lead by example, showing compassion and empathy for the oppressed because we live it. We know how to push through and push past what we go through to get through.