The loss Vice President Kamala Harris took in the primary election showed every Black woman in America that our hard work, organizing and sacrifice has yet again been taken in vain. Now, Black women across the nation have founded a new strategy: rest.
“Being overly qualified and experienced yet STILL losing to an underwhelmingly unfit opponent. Welcome to the life of a black woman,” wrote rapper Monaleo on X.
We are the most educated demographic in America, we have the highest labor force participation compared to other women demographics and on top of that we have proven to be the homemakers, care providers and nurturers in our community. Meanwhile, in major cities we are the most likely to be victims of violent crimes, most likely to go missing, most likely to experience domestic violence and most likely to die during or following childbirth.
After showing out with an overwhelming amount of votes for the Harris-Walz ticket, Black women were not only smacked in the face with the realization that a Black woman as polished and poised as Madam Vice President couldn’t beat president-elect Donald Trump. We were also disappointed that all of the organizing, donating and canvassing done for the protection of rights most women were afraid of losing was taken for granted by women voters who still preferred to trust an ex-reality TV host to make America great again.
Now, Black women have taken to social media to declare their retirement from pouring into communities that don’t pour back into them.
“Black women had a meeting. We’re done. We’re not coalescing around anyone but ourselves,” wrote another X user.
“Listen closely, we are done. We are now taking care of ourselves for the next 4 years. Read that again to make sure you understand 4-Complete-Years. Y’all be good out there,” wrote MSNBC medical contributor Ebony Jade Hilton, MD.
We did what we were supposed to do. We failed no one. So, we’re rolling our sleeves back down and positioning ourselves (and each other) to bear what’s to come of Trump’s second America.