Alright, Last Time I'm Talking About This...

So, we all saw what happened last night. I'm still trying to make sense of it. And I've been racking my brain all day to find a way to express my anger. Then it hit me: I'm more hurt than anything.

To say this election was different from other elections in the past is an understatement. This wasn't only about differences in political opinion. People can get over political differences. They argue, debate, then go back to living their lives and loving one another. This has proven to be a completely different case. This election was divisive, more divisive than the election in 2008. I remember the word "nigger" being tossed around like a football in the backyard. Even then things were mostly about politics. There was just a segment of ignorant people (a lot from this southern region of the country) who weren't ready to see a black president, and that's okay. We learn and we move on.  However, this is far from that on so many different levels, different levels of hate. One semi-mutual level I can speak on in particular: race relations.

Okay, I know what you're thinking. "Rex, you grew up in Pawleys Island, the chillest place in South Carolina! How and when did you ever have to deal with racism?!" Trust me, I did get pretty lucky to grow up in such a laid back town. Things could've been much worse. However, it's still in SC and it's still the south. I remember being the only kid who tested into the BEACH program (for academically gifted kids) in elementary school who had their scores tested 2 extra times. I remember being 1 of 3 kids to get a 100% on a math exam in middle school and being the only student accused of cheating or being the beneficiary of an error. I remember my high school history teacher complaining about certain people catching breaks based on what they looked like (I was the only black kid in the class). I remember overhearing a girlfriend's dad call me a nigger while they were having a family meeting before I took her on a date. I remember parents of acquaintances saying "why can't he find black friends?" I remember getting jumped by 2 rednecks in Five Points. I understand racism, as minor as those offenses may seem to you.

So, when I hear a man call a race of people "rapists" and "drug traffickers" while proposing to build a wall to keep "bad hombres" out, when I hear a man say we should ban an entire race of people from entering our country, when I hear a man only refer to my race in terms of crime in inner cities, when I hear a man say that "law and order" is the solution to unarmed black people being unjustly killed by law enforcement, when I hear a man say "Look at my African American," when I hear a man promoting violence against his protesters (most often of a non-white race), when I see non-white supporters of his get kicked out of his rallies, when a man is endorsed by David Duke and KKK because they "share the same values and beliefs" and doesn't immediately distance himself from these people...

By the way, this doesn't include the things he's said about women, the LGBT community, and handicapped, all segments of people I am extremely close to.

Look, if you're able to compartmentalize all the hatred and only focus on the issues, that's cool. I can't because I've lived in a different reality. And, don't get me wrong, I get the concerns about the opposing candidate. But, damn. It just kind of hurts that nearly half of America is fine with such hate and separation leading the greatest country in the world. And seeing people I'm close to attempt to rationalize this?! it's just a little disheartening.

All I know is this: we are where we are. And, quite frankly, I hope this guy can prove me and half of the nation wrong. It's just kind of hard to have confidence in a person like him. However, we ALL need to come together, love one another, and MOVE FORWARD! This could be a blessing in disguise. An ignorant orange tiny-handed disguise (sorry, I had to haha). Don't let this change whatever kindness you have in your being. We can only make change together.

With that being said, my birthday is tomorrow. You know what to do.
Peace
Rex