Voting isn't enough, but it is still necessary.
Packs Shipment No. 11
Amidst the terrible court decision that failed Breonna Taylor, dehumanized her, and made her killers into heroes, conversations about voting started to seep onto the Twitter timeline. People were echoing sentiments that Black people have to stop assuming participating, by voting, in a system designed to kill us and protect the killers will never be what saves us. It’s a fair point.
How else should Black people feel after courts decided that the bullets that hit sheetrock were more important than those that killed Breonna Taylor? Questioning our current government structure and what it does for us, even when we are willing participants of it, is an understandable landing point.
I have never been a big voter myself and admittedly didn’t vote in 2016. I can’t say I regret that decision, because I’m not positive that my vote alone would’ve prevented Donald Trump from attempting to take this country hostage. A lack of confidence in my vote is why some Black people feel the way they feel about voting right now, especially with the George Floyd and Ahmaud Arbery still fresh on their minds. Voting, by itself, will never be what changes the system designed to harm Black people in every way imaginable, but it is still a necessary action.
Photo Credit: David Geitgey Sierralupe
We have to do more. The biggest issue with the phrase “Just Vote” is the word “just.” Voting has to be one action in a long list of actions that Black people have to engage in. Voting doesn't mean we can’t organize in other ways, but just not voting is not an effective protest against the system. Politicians won’t change a racist system because we refuse to vote. All they’ll do is take advantage of us even more. Trump and Biden will surely do that in some fashion.
At this point, Biden’s best argument for his vote is that he isn’t the other guy. In another election, that wouldn’t be enough. But with Trump on the other side of the ticket, Biden’s lazy stance is enough.
The election is about a month away. I want to repeat that and put it in all caps: THE ELECTION IS ABOUT A MONTH AWAY. I will support just about any movement that can organize and effectively change this system that makes a more peaceful, unified, and inclusive country. But unless those movements can organize within 45 days and have a legitimate shot at instituting real change in our government right now, then foregoing voting and waiting for that movement to come cannot be an answer.
I don’t want to write in detail about every reason we need all hands on deck right now, so I’ll link some things we all need to understand about what this current president is trying to accomplish and what is really at stake.
Trump is primed and ready to force himself into a second election
Trump and Mitch McConnel’s judges will dictate our life and our kids’ lives
Trump wants to force us to forget America’s racist past and present
Trump’s war on our democracy would obliterate any crusade for climate change
That’s the situation right now. Under a second Trump term, the unimaginable could become reality. And the work it would take to undo eight years of Trump could be too much. I’d much rather fight to change under Biden than Trump. I may eat those words later, but I’m comfortable making that bet right now.
For the voters: Do more than vote. Don’t press the button or fill out the ballot and exhale a sigh of relief as you plop down on your couch. There will be more work to do after the election, regardless of who takes the oath in January. Just voting is not enough. If Biden wins, don’t take that as a win. Biden is a step out of the basement Trump put us in, not an elevator ride to the fair society we all want. Be available and enthusiastic about that work, too.
And non-voters: If you’re not voting for any circumstance, then fine. Fair. I’m not here to convince you to vote, but make sure you’re doing the work in the next month and beyond to make a difference. Don’t sit on your ass, tell other people voting is bullshit, and then not hit a single street or educate someone else. Sign and create petitions. Spread awareness, join community organizations, and put in the time and effort to make a difference on a micro-level. We need it.
But for right now, the best solution is for non-voters and voters to do both. Punch your ticket on the candidate who more closely aligns with your beliefs, and then hit the ground running with efforts when you have the time. Challenge whoever takes office for the next four years with every tool at your disposal, because this is all we have right now.
For an election this critical, where we could descend further into an abyss or cling to the edge with a few fingers, we have to do everything, even voting.
Welp, hope y’all enjoyed this edition of Packs. We back next Friday with a new delivery.
Between Packs, follow me on all the socials: @Tribecalledni on damn-near everything.
Until next time, be cool.