“Where Are the Black Protesters?” + VOTE FOR ME!

Over the past few weeks, a growing number of observers have been asking where the mass Black protest-movements were hiding. Where are the Black Lives Matter organizers? Where are the Black clergymen marching the streets with parishioners in tow? Where are the on-beat chants of “no justice, no peace?”

I think I know the answer to that question.

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I’ll be the first to admit that this question annoys me, a little. Not because it isn’t asked in good faith, or because the question is, in itself, a bad one.

The question is irksome precisely because Black people have consistently been on the frontlines of the resistance to authoritarianism and fascism in America for the entirety of this country’s history; and that commitment hasn’t changed.

Said differently, if you don’t see Black people in this fight — you may be looking in the wrong direction.

Here are just a few of the recent ways Black folks have been actively engaged in resisting Trump on their own terms:

• Black faith leaders have organized more than 150,000 people committed to the on-going Target Boycott, resulting in 10 consecutive weeks of declining foot traffic in stores, and declining stock prices.

• Black organizers in Louisiana, like Gary Chambers, helped to defeat four constitutional amendments that Black leaders believed would be harmful to marginalized communities. One of the amendments would have made it easier to send minors to adult prisons.

• Black organizers, journalists and activists, led by Angela Rye, are planning a State of the People Power Tour in 12 cities across the country to “rally, restore, and reimagine what’s possible for Black communities.”

Black people are working.

I talked about this in a recent video. You can watch it here.

I refuse to allow Trump’s chaos to monopolize my brain space. So here are a few of the things that sparked joy for me this week:

• Ryan Coogler’s amazing film format breakdown took me back to my film school days.

• This photo of Spike Lee from GQ’s Black Dandy exhibition.

• This TikTok trend is so much fun 😂

Thanks for being here, friends!