Throughout the years, there have been more than a few racists who’ve served as President. But we’ve never had one so brazen.
Over the last few days, the latest chapter in Donald Trump’s racist live-action biography started taking shape when he attacked Maryland Rep. Elijah Cummings and Rev. Al Sharpton on Twitter.
The leader of the free world, whose actions often resemble those of a toddler, went after Cummings for “being a bully” to the men and women of the Border Patrol. You know, the people who are cool with getting a check for dehumanizing innocent men, women, and children who are seeking better opportunities in our country.
But in the same way that Trump’s politics at the border are targeting people of color, his attack on Cummings was more of the same.
“Cumming’s District is a disgusting, rat and rodent infested mess. If he spent more time in Baltimore, maybe he could help clean up this very dangerous & filthy place,” he wrote.
In the President’s mind, any person of color that does not support him, and even those that do, live in sh*tholes, even when that’s not the case.
It’s “better to have a few rats than to be one,” replied the Editorial Board of the Baltimore Sun, as their response to the President called out his racist comments and supported them with facts while praising Cummings.
It’s as if everybody is starting to memorize Trump’s playbook because when things aren’t going well he’s sure to find a person of color to attack on Twitter.
In the past, it’s been Civil Rights icons like John Lewis.
Remember when he called Omarosa a dog? Despite how you might feel about her, referring to a black woman like that is the ultimate disrespect.
We know he hates women of color in the press who ask him tough questions, and just a few weeks ago we witnessed the situation with “The Squad,” as he relentlessly went after Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ayanna Pressley, Ilhan Omar, and Rashida Tlaib.
He started the Birther Movement in efforts to undermine President Obama.
He’s gone after athletes of color for not wanting to celebrate their championships with him in the White House, while also belittling student-athletes in top physical shape by serving them fast food.
And we know how he feels about Hillary Clinton.
Let me make this plain for you.
If you’re anything other than a white man that supports him, Trump will find a way to attack you. And even then, you might not be safe. We saw how he treated former attorney Michael Cohen.
Sharpton had to have known that his time was coming.
“Al Sharpton would always ask me to go to his events. He would say, “it’s a personal favor to me.” Seldom, but sometimes, I would go. It was fine. He came to my office in T.T. during the presidential campaign to apologize for the way he was talking about me. Just a conman at work!” wrote Trump.
The reason for the attack?
Who knows, but Sharpton was ready.
“He’s going to attack me as a ‘troublemaker’ and a ‘con-man.’ …I am a ‘troublemaker’… I intend to make trouble every time racists and bigots move around in any way shape or form, including the president,” said Sharpton on MSNBC Monday morning.
However, the timing of everything that took place over the weekend is the most intriguing part of all this.
Exactly three years to the date of Trump’s 48-hour Twitter rant, President Obama and Hillary Clinton were closing out the last two nights of the historic 2016 Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia.
Three years ago, one of the most respected and beloved presidents of all time was a black man.
Three years later, a respected and beloved Democratic Congressmen, who’s Black, was being attacked by the President.
Life comes at you fast when the country puts an unapologetic racist in the Oval Office.
I covered the DNC three years ago, and I find no coincidence in the fact that Cory Booker is running for president three years after delivering one of the best speeches I’ve ever heard.
But what sticks with me the most from that experience is the feeling I had after spending four days in Philadelphia. I thought about the potential damage that could be done during a Trump administration, and it gnawed at me. And three years later, we’re living it. That feeling would lead to me writing that, “the rest of the world is finally seeing what Americans of color have known for centuries – this is a racist country,” after Election Day.
That same sentiment was once again on the world’s stage to see this past weekend.
Next July, the 2020 DNC will take place in Milwaukee. And if Democrats don’t want to experience another weekend, or three year-span, like we’re dealing with right now, they need to learn from their 2016 mistakes.
Fighting amongst yourselves isn’t the key to defeating a racist and sexist bully, working together is.
