A month ago I asked Meg if I could write an Election Day recap. Of course! She said. Yes! It will be so fun.
Last night around 11pm I started realizing that the country I thought I lived in might not really exist. This morning at 6am I sat down at my kitchen table and stared at my laptop, waiting for something to occur to me. Then, at 8:11am EST, I realized that I don’t have to solve anything for anyone, because I can’t. There are no words right now, because we didn’t think these words would have to exist.
Here are a few things I know:
we are in this together: Whatever happens, whatever comes to light, whatever laws and rights are passed or stripped, it doesn’t change the fact that we are here. As I move from denial to anger (where I plan to stay for the next four years), I am trying to remind myself of this fact. We are here.
it’s time to get woke: I don’t mean in the cool, trendy Internet way. I mean really, truly awaken. Last night I had a minor-to-major meltdown on Slack when I realized that the country I live in has sent a clear message that women are not valued in the way I thought they were. This meltdown happened in the digital presence of Najva, Jareesa, and Rachel (formerly of APW, now at Buzzfeed—y’all know her), who are all intelligent, powerful women of color. I realized quickly that this sensation, while embarrassingly new to me, is probably not new to them. I realized that this sensation, while devastating, only gives me a glimpse into what a lot Black and brown people, people of color, have felt in this country for… forever. As scared as I am for my family, I’m even more scared for families who don’t have the privilege we have.
I have also realized I still have a lot to learn, and I want to learn how to use what privilege I do have to help as many people as I can. As serious as this might be for us (and there are some very real concerns in our home right now), I know it’s extremely grim for many more people.
liberal democracy has to continue: And we have to fight hatred in all forms: racism, xenophobia, bigotry, ableism, transphobia, anti-Semitism. I don’t really know how, right now, but I’m researching. Here’s what I’ve got:
we who choose to stay and fight
He won. Now what does Donald Trump do?
waking up to president trump: what happens now?
American has done what seemed unthinkable.
Crisis Text line: Text START to 741-741
The Trevor Project (LGBT+): 1-866-488-7386
Trans Lifeline: (877) 565-8860
National Suicide Hotline: 1-800-273-8255
share your links below, please. we all need them.
