Trump Won (again). So What Do We Do Now? – 10 Questions for Social Justice Educators
Breathe. Breathe. Breathe.
So, now we have the results of a Trump/Republican (yes another) Presidency. Our heads are spinning and our hearts are heavy (well some of us, coz some of us stay in this mode). Before we can jump to action and next steps, let me be real for a moment. I wasn’t surprised, but I was still surprised. I felt depressed all day. I couldn’t even talk about it with my wife. We were both just sad. We knew it was possible and we know what country we live in as two bodies of color. Resmaa calls it a pigmentocracy. Word to your melanated mother. But I exchanged some texts with my close homies, friends, and families. And as I had a quiet moment, I started writing notes, that led to this blog post.
After the post-apocalyptic (and somehow colonial) dust settles, it’s clear that there’s a deeper problem at hand. This ain’t about one man’s quest, one group to blame, or a populist uprising. This is deeper. Therefore, it’s imperative that we explore several questions as it relates to antiracism and DEIB work. I got 10 of ’em for you below.
I hope to answer some/most of these questions in follow up blog posts, workshops or possibly at the upcoming 2025 Dismantling White Supremacy Culture in Schools Conference.
10+ Questions for Social Justice Educators
- How do we care for ourselves, so that we can sustain in the work, avoid burnout, and continue to push for change?
- How do we discuss the 2024 election, implication, feelings, emotions, and next steps with student/staff in schools?
- How do we truly educate white students so that they have a healthy antiracist white identity?
- How will we center the voices, advice, and wisdom of Black women, and trans folx in racial equity work, since their positions rarely waver, and vote aligned with values of justice?
- How do we analyze the impact of zionism beliefs and the influence the state of Israel (AIPAC) has had on our consciousness and education system?
- What are we actually allowed to (or not) teach about in our schools and how does the fear of upsetting the power structure change how close we’re willing to approach that line, cross it, or question it?
- Given that so many people of color voted for Trump, and against their racial equity interests (economics also), how can a deep study of ethnic studies and global political history create the conditions for more informed living/voting?
- When will we teach about patriarchy, unexamined toxic masculinity and homophobia?
- How do we teach a critical analysis of history (and current events) that can withstand white defensiveness and white rage (the weaponization of white guilt/shame)?
- How will we continue to do racial equity work when it becomes even more under attack, during this new administration?
- What more can we expect and demand of self-proclaimed white liberals/allies, and move them towards being white co-conspirators for racial justice?
Shit. I know.
Never said it would be easy.
These are deep and complex questions. I won’t pretend to make it simple. But I’ll tell you what is simple; staying committed to exploring them. I’ve often tried to push and provoke, because the surface doesn’t get to the core. We must look at habits, routines, policies, and then go further. We must explore values and mindsets. That’s both at the foundation and further below. That is how we get to the core. The heart. Below the iceberg. Performative moves and virtue signaling won’t cut it. I mean, c’mon. Look at the elections.
This is why I’ve been on this dismantling white supremacy culture tip for years, and we must combine DWSC with an understanding of imperialism and settler colonialism.
And the whole time, there were always haters and genuine critics who said “Joe, that’s too much, we gotta tone it down. <wide eyes> That will upset (white) people.” What if I told you they’d be upset regardless? Even after the anti-crt (white supremacist) attack, we toned it down. And folks still wanted to move back to a time when “America was great.”
We saw and will continue to see the firing of educators (and college Deans) of color (mostly Black), banning of books (LGBT focused and mostly Black authors/subjects again), and the recalling of school boards. This shows that even after all that, folks with privilege wanted more.
Somehow they threw in a repeal of Roe v. Wade and that don’t even have shit to do with DEI or antiracism.
Even after all that, people with privilege (often men and white people, which match the polls) wanted more.
What does that all mean? Even when we sugarcoat the message, soften our language, or when we bend a knee to the white male power structure, it ain’t good enough.
And let’s be clear. When we pushed harder in 2020/2201 they pushed back hard. Because they knew what we were asking for. Change in our financial equity, not just empty equity statements. Policy over performance.
Ok, so after all that, I’ll direct you back to these questions and all the other good ones out there. There aren’t simple answers but progress will come through exploring these deeper, complex, and uncomfortable questions.
Milwaukee community stalwart, Venice Williams, offered some great words of wisdom below:
“You are awakening to the
same country you fell asleep to.
The very same country.
Pull yourself together.
And,
when you see me,
do not ask me
“What do we do now?
How do we get through the next four years?”
Some of my Ancestors dealt with
at least 400 years of this
under worse conditions.
Continue to do the good work.
Continue to build bridges not walls.
Continue to lead with compassion.
Continue the demanding work
of liberation for all.
Continue to dismantle broken systems,
large and small.
Continue to set the best example
for the children.
Continue to be a vessel of nourishing joy.
Continue right where you are.
Right where you live into your days.
Do so in the name of
The Creator who expects
nothing less from each of us.
And if you are not “continuing”
ALL of the above,
in community, partnership, collaboration?
What is it you have been doing?
What is it you are waiting for?”
Wise words from Venice Williams.
That is how we will understand how we could (RE)elect a president who lied, cheated, stole, failed, abused women, evaded taxes, attacked multiple marginalized groups, incited a riot, and boasted. Through this deeper exploration and associated work we can get to a place where we are making progress with our consciousness, not just temporary policies dependent on a political party in charge.
Progress is through the painful work. Resmaa Menakem calls this the “clean pain.”
If your stomach ain’t churning, you ain’t learning.
And if those with the most privilege aren’t the most uncomfortable, it ain’t the right work.
I mean this is ameriKa.
Be brave.
Be bold.
Keep fighting for racial equity!