By Written by Tayyaba Bukhari.
If you’re not a white male* who voted for the GOP in the 2016 presidential election, then the next four years might really suck for you. Simply put. This includes people of all races, ethnicities, and religions. The key word to remember here is, MIGHT. So what can you do about it? Make your voice heard. How? By joining forces together. We are stronger united together than as individuals during a presidency meant to divide us.
In the midst of facing persecution during the Holocaust, Protestant Pastor Martin Niemoller said in the 1950s:
“First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out—Because I was not a Socialist. Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out— Because I was not a Trade Unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out— Because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.”
What does this mean in today’s ever increasing intense socio-political climate? It means don’t leave anyone behind just to secure YOUR rights for YOUR community. It means as a woman, or African-American, or Latino, or Muslim or an individual from the LGBTQ community, do not forget what your other brothers and sisters are going through as well. When Trump and his policies hurt one of us socially, politically or economically, they hurt ALL OF US.
Muslims need to speak out on behalf of the LGBTQ community, white women need to speak out for African-Americans, Jews need to speak out for Native Americans, and the list goes on for everyone else that needs their voices heard.
When women’s free health clinics lose their funding, all of us perish in this oppression. When a young African-American male is innocently killed on the side of the road because of racial profiling, all of us suffer. Do not be naive in believing this is your fight alone. We can only succeed in this together, with all of our communities’ forces combined.
Moving forward into 2017, I urge all of us to dig a little deeper outside of the labels of our own identity and rise above the surface level to help other community members in their movements. As Trump reigns in the next four years, we need to become stronger and show resistance with a united front. This social responsibility falls on each and every one of us as a citizen and community member.
Muslims need to speak out on behalf of the LGBTQ community, white women need to speak out for African-Americans, Jews need to speak out for Native Americans, and the list goes on for everyone else that needs their voices heard.
While many of us may be unhappy with the new executive leader and team on Capitol Hill, the power still remains in our hands. We determine the fate of this country and we can change history. Let’s use the next four years to improve our future by building bridges, establishing a united front, and moving forward stronger together.
* Trump voters ranged across all races and religions, but the emphasis in this writing is on the majority voter demographic which is white.