Standing for Truth: A Democrat's Perspective on American Values and Leadership

?I'm a Democrat, and I'm not shy about it. This year, I'm proudly voting for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz. But let's be clear: I'm an American first. Born and raised in this country, I've supported every president once the votes were counted - Bush, Reagan, you name it. That's how democracy works. Or at least, that's how it's supposed to work.

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Enter Donald Trump. He made it damn near impossible for me to get there with him. To me, he was the devil in a white dress (house) during his first tour of duty. And now, watching Christians and others claim they have values while turning a blind eye to crimes like rape, theft, and insurrection in the name of God? It's not just concerning; it's ridiculous.

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Let's talk about these so-called "Black Jobs" that seem to have Donald Trump so worked up. Buckle up, folks, because we're about to take a wild ride from the cotton fields of the 1850s all the way to the White House of today.

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When Trump talks about "Black Jobs," it's like he's stuck in a time warp. You'd think he was talking about picking cotton, working as sharecroppers, or toiling in the fields as migrant labor. Hey, Donald, newsflash: it's not 1850 anymore!

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At the National Association of Black Journalists convention in Chicago, Trump had the audacity to claim immigrants were "taking Black jobs." When pressed to explain what exactly a "Black job" is, he graced us with this pearl of wisdom: "A Black job is anybody that has a job. That's what it is." Oh, and don't forget the kicker: "They're coming in, and they're coming in, they're invading."

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Now, let's break this down because there's a lot to unpack here:

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1. The very idea of a "Black Job" is as offensive as it is absurd. It's like Trump's understanding of Black employment stopped somewhere around the Emancipation Proclamation.

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2. By framing it this way, he's not just being ignorant – he's tapping into a long, ugly history of relegating Black people to the lowest rungs of the economic ladder. It's as if in his mind, the only jobs Black folks should be concerned about are the ones at the bottom.

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3. This rhetoric isn't just offensive – it's dangerous. It's an attempt to pit communities against each other, to make Black Americans see immigrants as the enemy rather than recognizing the real systemic issues at play.

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But here's where it gets interesting. While Trump's stuck in the past, Black excellence is busy redefining what a "Black Job" really means in the 21st century. Let's take a look at some real "Black Jobs," shall we?

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First stop, 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. Remember when Barack Obama landed that little "Black Job" called President of the United States? For eight years, he was just chillin' in the Oval Office, making history, breaking barriers, and oh yeah, running the free world. No biggie, right? Just your average day in the cotton fields, I'm sure.

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Now, let's hit the court. LeBron James isn't just dominating in his "Black Job" of being a basketball legend. He's also a business mogul, a philanthropist, and a powerful voice for social justice. Looks like someone didn't get the memo about staying in their lane. Sorry, not sorry.

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And let's not forget Kamala Harris. Right now, she's rocking another one of those "Black Jobs" as Vice President of the United States. First in line to the presidency, shattering glass ceilings left and right. You know, just another day at the office.

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But hold onto your hats, because the story doesn't end there. This November, we've got a chance to vote Kamala into the top job in the world. And yeah, it might not be solely a "Black Job," but she just might be the first Black woman ever to have it. Plot twist: maybe it's a woman's job? Oh, the horror! Can you imagine? A job that's not defined by race or gender, but by qualifications, experience, and the will of the people? Shocking, I tell you!

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See what we're doing here? We're taking this ridiculous, racist "Black Job" concept and blowing it sky-high. We're showing that Black excellence doesn't fit in a box. It doesn't conform to stereotypes. It breaks molds, shatters expectations, and rewrites the rules.

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From the basketball court to the Oval Office, we're not just filling "Black Jobs" – we're excelling in every job. We're leading, innovating, and changing the game in every field we enter. And let me tell you, it's a far cry from the cotton fields Trump seems to think we belong in.

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And let's not forget the man who laid the foundation for all of this progress - Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. When we talk about "Black Jobs" and Black excellence, we're standing on the shoulders of giants, and Dr. King towers among them.

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King wasn't just fighting for the right to work; he was fighting for the right to dream, to aspire, to reach the highest levels of society without the shackles of systemic racism holding us back. His "I Have a Dream" speech wasn't merely about integration; it was a vision of a future where Black Americans could aspire to any job, any position, any height of achievement.

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Remember, King was assassinated while supporting striking sanitation workers in Memphis. He understood that economic justice was inseparable from racial justice. He knew that true equality meant not just the right to sit at the lunch counter, but the right to own the diner.

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When King spoke of judging people "not by the color of their skin but by the content of their character," he was laying the groundwork for a world where the very idea of a "Black Job" would be obsolete. He was envisioning a future where a Black man could be President, where a Black woman could be Vice President, where Black excellence could shine in every field and every industry.

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So when we look at the achievements of Obama, Harris, LeBron, and countless others, we're seeing the partial fulfillment of King's dream. But make no mistake, the work isn't done. The fact that we're still having to push back against racist concepts like "Black Jobs" in 2024 shows how far we still have to go.

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King's legacy reminds us that the fight for equality is ongoing. It's not just about achieving positions of power; it's about changing the system itself. It's about creating a world where every child, regardless of their race, can dream as big as they want and have a fair shot at achieving those dreams.

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So when we talk about getting MAD - Motivating, Articulating, and Disseminating - we're carrying on King's legacy. We're picking up the baton he carried and continuing the race towards true equality and justice. And just like King, we're not just fighting against something; we're fighting for something. We're fighting for an America that lives up to its highest ideals, an America where "Black Jobs" is a relic of the past, and where Black excellence is simply recognized as American excellence.

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Now, about this DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) business. Some folks throw that term around like it's a bad thing. Well, I've been a "DEI hire" my whole life, and I'd say I've done a pretty good job. It's not about lowering standards; it's about recognizing talent that might have been overlooked before.

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These leaders aren't perfect - no one is. But they represent the best of what we can be. They've faced adversity, discrimination, and countless obstacles, but they didn't let that stop them. They persevered, they excelled, and they lifted others up along the way.

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I want my children to look up to these leaders because they show us what's possible. They prove that our skin color isn't a limitation - it's a source of strength and pride. They demonstrate that with hard work, determination, and integrity, we can overcome the barriers that society puts in our way.

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Now, let's address the elephant in the room - Donald Trump. His actions and words have often stood in stark contrast to these ideals of inclusivity, dignity, and justice. Let's break down the facts:

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1. Racial Discrimination: Back in 1973, the Justice Department sued Trump Management for violating the Fair Housing Act by discriminating against minority renters. This wasn't just talk; this was action that directly harmed Black families trying to find a place to live.

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2. Divisive Rhetoric: Trump kicked off his 2016 campaign by calling Mexican immigrants "rapists" and criminals. He called for a "total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States." This kind of language doesn't just divide us; it puts people in danger.

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3. Questioning Legitimacy of Black Leaders: Trump was a leading voice in the "birther" movement, falsely claiming President Obama wasn't born in the United States. And he's continuing this disgraceful pattern with Vice President Kamala Harris.

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Trump's pattern of delegitimizing Black leaders hit a new low when he targeted Vice President Kamala Harris, who's now running for President in the 2024 election. After President Biden decided not to seek re-election and Harris won the Democratic nomination, Trump didn't just question her policies or qualifications. No, he went straight for her identity. At the National Association of Black Journalists convention in Chicago - yeah, you heard that right, at a gathering of Black journalists - Trump had the audacity to say, "I didn't know she was Black until a number of years ago, when she happened to turn Black, and now she wants to be known as Black." He even asked, "Is she Indian or is she Black?" as if a person can't be both.

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Let's be clear: Harris has always identified as both Black and South Asian American. She went to Howard University, a historically Black university, and joined a predominantly Black sorority. But facts don't matter to Trump. This is just another play from his tired old playbook - try to delegitimize Black leaders by questioning their identity. He did it with Obama and the whole "birther" nonsense, and now he's doing it with Harris as she runs for the highest office in the land. It's a pattern, folks, and it's as transparent as it is disgusting.

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Trump's not just ignorant about race; he's weaponizing that ignorance to divide us and undermine Harris's candidacy. And the saddest part? Some people are still buying what he's selling. The White House Press Secretary called Trump's remarks "repulsive" and "insulting," and rightly so. This isn't just about Harris; it's about the ongoing attempt to undermine and discredit Black leadership in America, especially when that leadership is poised to reach the pinnacle of American politics.

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4. Encouraging Violence: At a 2016 rally, Trump said about a protester, "I'd like to punch him in the face." He told supporters to "knock the crap out of" anyone throwing objects at his rallies, offering to pay their legal fees. This isn't just tough talk; it's incitement.

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5. Undermining Democratic Processes: Trump made repeated false claims about widespread voter fraud in the 2020 election, despite a lack of evidence. This culminated in the January 6th Capitol riot, where he's accused of inciting violence to overturn election results.

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6. Disrespect Towards Women: The "Access Hollywood" tape revealed Trump boasting about sexually assaulting women. He's faced multiple allegations of sexual misconduct and was found liable for sexual abuse in a civil case brought by E. Jean Carroll.

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7. Mocking Disabilities: At a 2015 rally, Trump appeared to mock a disabled reporter, mimicking his physical condition. This isn't just offensive; it's cruel and unbefitting of any leader, let alone a president.

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8. Environmental Rollbacks: Trump withdrew the U.S. from the Paris Climate Agreement and rolled back over 100 environmental rules and regulations. This isn't just policy; it's a direct threat to our planet's future.

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9. Nepotism and Conflicts of Interest: He appointed his daughter Ivanka and son-in-law Jared Kushner to senior White House positions and refused to fully divest from his businesses, raising serious ethical concerns.

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10. Response to Civil Rights Protests: After the Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Trump said there were "very fine people on both sides," equating neo-Nazis with counter-protesters. He called Black Lives Matter a "symbol of hate" and had peaceful protesters forcibly removed for a photo op at St. John's Church.

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These aren't just isolated incidents; they form a pattern of behavior that's fundamentally at odds with the values we should expect from our leaders. And yet, some folks still defend him. They'll overlook rape allegations, ignore his role in an actual insurrection, and brush off his constant attacks on our democratic institutions. All in the name of what? Making America great again? Let me tell you something - America is great because of its diversity, its resilience, and its constant striving to be better. Not because of some guy who thinks Frederick Douglass is still alive and kicking.

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I practice many things in my life. I practice coaching, I practice basketball, I practice driving with my son, I practice martial arts. But you know what I don't practice? Racism. Many of you do, and you hide it in your politics. It's okay, it doesn't make you a bad person. Maybe you just need to see where your intake is different from others.

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So here's the deal. I'm purging my Facebook friends list to eliminate the people whose posts show up on my page justifying Donald Trump. It's pretty ridiculous to justify a vote for him by saying Kamala Harris is the problem. Really? By no longer hearing from me, and me no longer hearing from you, we can get on with the business of life.

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One more thing: if by chance you're ever in a bind, don't call Trump. He ain't gonna answer. Call me. I'll take the call and find someone to help you out.

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I love this country, and trust me, it's far from perfect. But so are you and I. What matters is that we keep striving to live up to our ideals. We need to teach our kids sound values, to see people for who they are and not the color of their skin. We need to stand up for truth and respect.

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Final Thoughts: It's Not Just About Race

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Most of you are going to say it's not about race with Trump, and this may surprise you - it's not. Don't get it twisted; he doesn't not like Black or Brown people. But here's the thing: he doesn't like middle-class whites or poor whites either. Like he tells you, he is a businessman. If he can make a few dollars off a Black man, and save a few dollars by laying off his daughter, he will do it. If he can earn more money from Russia than his salary as President, then he will. He is a racist, but if a black man can make him millions, then he will hire a Herschel in a second.

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Trump's motivations aren't solely driven by racial animus - they're driven by greed and self-interest. He'll exploit anyone, regardless of color or economic status, if it benefits him financially or politically. This doesn't make his actions any less harmful or his rhetoric any less divisive. If anything, it makes them more insidious because they're calculated moves rather than mere prejudice.

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We're better than that. We have to be better than that. For our children, for our communities, and for the soul of this nation we all love. So I'm calling on all of us to get MAD - Motivate, Articulate, and Disseminate. I came up with this MAD approach during the Democratic convention, and I believe it's exactly what we need right now to make a real difference in this election and beyond.

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Let me break down what MAD means and how we can put it into action:

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1. Motivate: It's not enough to just care about the issues - we need to act. Motivate yourself to stay informed and engaged. Motivate your friends, family, and community to participate in the democratic process. This means voting, of course, but also attending local meetings, contacting representatives, and staying active in civic life.

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2. Articulate: We need to be clear about our values and the reasons behind our choices. Articulate your thoughts and concerns respectfully but firmly. Practice explaining complex issues in simple terms. Be ready to have those tough conversations with people who might disagree with you. Remember, it's not about winning arguments, it's about fostering understanding.

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3. Disseminate: In this age of misinformation, spreading accurate, factual information is crucial. Disseminate truth to combat the flood of falsehoods out there. Share reliable news sources, fact-check before you post, and help others learn how to distinguish between credible information and propaganda. Be a beacon of truth in your community.

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By getting MAD in this positive, proactive way, we can make a real difference. This is how we keep America great. Not by turning a blind eye to corruption, not by excusing inexcusable behavior, and certainly not by pretending that a man's actions don't matter as long as we agree with his policies. But by standing up, speaking out, and actively engaging in our democracy.

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Let's work together to build an America that truly lives up to its promise. An America where we can disagree.

FW- For The People

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