The best mothers don’t teach good behaviors, they model good behaviors. So, while I don’t disagree with Christine Emba concerning the response to the role black women took in the past elections, I wish she’d addressed that issue as well:
Stacey Abrams did it.
The former lawmaker and gubernatorial candidate has turned Georgia, once reliably red, to blue. Due in large part to the tireless organizing of Abrams and many other Black women, Georgians helped elect Democrat Joe Biden to the presidency and — after a nail-biting runoff election — will send Democrats Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff to the Senate.
In response, social media has overflowed with paeans to Black women. A sample: “Black women saved our republic”! “Stacey Abrams is a hero”! “Black women saved our asses. We don’t deserve them.” “THANK YOU BLACK WOMEN.”
Some have suggested that the super-organized Abrams be given the task of vaccine distribution — since, you know, she can (and must want to) do everything. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) posted a picture of a Stacey Abrams prayer candle.
The clamor is meant to be flattering, but it feels more than a little demeaning. [WaPo]
And, sure, it’s true. The proper response is not an outflowing of generic Thanks, we’ll call when we need you again, but Thank you for modeling how an American adult fulfills their civic duty.
Look, my guess is that the overwhelming majority of Americans are really not aware of politics and its many aspects to evaluate: ideologies, competency, past performance, unofficial behaviors (like coded racist rhetoric) of all the major parties. Many get into a rut and just keep on voting for one party or another.
Because we’re so busy, aren’t we?
But the Black community, especially the women, are not modeling VOTE FOR DEMOCRATS. What they’re really saying is the result of their investigation, of fulfilling their civic duty, where they find, on balance, Democratic policies and competencies far outweigh Republican policies and competencies – and the essential exclusionary aspect of the Republican philosophy is profoundly detrimental to the Black community.
And that’s what I really wish Emba had called for. For those outside the Black community that the civic duty isn’t really fulfilled when you drop the marble in the jug, or however voting happens in your district. It also requires sober investigation.
This might work as a summation:
No, you cannot vote Democratic or Republican just because of party loyalty, old family habit, or eenie-meenie-minie-mo. Investigate. Don’t take either side’s word for anything about the other. No, Democrats are not socialists, and I don’t care what you heard on a Republican commercial. If you take that self-interested advertisement seriously, you’re shirking your civic duty.
I mean, that this dude was even torn in the least little bit between Biden and Trump was utterly bewildering to me – unless I assume he’s not paying any attention. Not doing his research. Not doing his civic duty. As I explained in detail.
So that’s really one of the most important lessons that should be learned from the Black community’s decisive involvement, from primary to general. Be an adult. Do your entire civic duty. Next time a candidate breaks a record for lying, be aware of it and ask yourself how you can possibly vote for such mendacity.
Because if you can’t defend your decision with something that sounds halfway reasonable, then you’re not doing it right.
