Let’s keep it a buck: Donald Trump’s re-election feels like one of the worst losses for Black people since Prince died. Many of us have become isolated in our disbelief and despair — particularly Black women who feel especially challenged since they pulled so hard to defeat Trump, only to see a number of different demographics sell them out.
Others have been seriously discussing leaving the nation altogether (I’m writing this from Lisbon, Portugal, where I’ve met several Black people who have already done so). But the reality is — short of a miracle — we’re left vulnerable to (at least) four years of a comically incompetent administration at best, and at worst a maniacally malevolent, Pinochet-like regime hell-bent on vengeance against dissent.
Still, many of us are left wondering what we can do to unify as we wade through a lake of horse shit. A few suggestions present themselves to those willing to look to the future.
Get toxic social media out of our lives
X’s algorithm has skewed increasingly to the right since Elon Musk took it over. Black Twitter was once a thing that knitted our culture together, but we now have no incentive to keep it. The platform has reportedly lost at least one million users and counting since the election to competitor Bluesky.
There’s also the Black-designed and -owned Spill app, and Threads, a spinoff of Meta’s Facebook and Instagram. We can come together in those spaces and find more tools to protect us from our enemies.
Utilize existing organizations
We’ve got no shortage of organizations that we’ve boasted about being a part of, ranging from Black Greek-letter societies to churches, trade unions, and chapters of groups like the NAACP, the Urban League and others. They may not be perfect, but they don’t have to be. In times like these, they can be places where you find safety in numbers, reliable information and experienced leadership. Now is the time to strengthen them and find support for our daily fight.
Quit the pettiness
If there’s anything that we don’t need now it’s colorism, classism, elitism, sexism, squabbles over nationality or xenophobia of any type. It’s always been stupid. Now it can do nothing but pull us down. It’s time to ask ourselves: “When I think this or say this, am I being a crab in a barrel?” Hating on other Black people does nothing but play into Trump’s greedy little hands.
Learn fighting techniques and pay it forward
Martial arts and firearms training are just two tactics, but there are others. Learn how to use the law to your advantage, efficient communications skills, and your local election systems. Elect local politicians that favor your interests. These are tools at your disposal that you can also give to your family and friends to utilize when necessary.
Exist
Being Black and alive in America – really, the western world – is a revolutionary act. Having a day of happiness, from a wedding, graduation, birth, or other successes is a win. For generations we’ve faced people who hated us just for having that. The most important thing that will unify us is to simply exist and show other Black people that nobody stopped you from doing it. You just may inspire another Black person to carry on to a new day.