We liberate before we unite. That’s how we do this. White folks, let’s wring our hands less about inclusion for the people who oppose our values, and work much more to include the people we supposedly value whose voices have always been suppressed.

One ballot dropbox per county and we shrug and say “Texas went red after all,” are you effing KIDDING me?

775,000 people with felony convictions disenfranchised even after winning a statewide referendum to return their voting rights in FL where Trump then ended up on top by only 375,000 votes, ARE YOU EFFING KIDDING ME?

CENTURIES, LITERAL CENTURIES OF LEGALIZED EXCLUSION of generations of Black and Indigenous and people of color — YES, INCLUDING THIS GENERATION — but us liberal White people are in a hurry to “heal our nation” with the three-fifths of not-so-liberal White people who voted for Trump and forget about the unhealed wounds from our past “three-fifths compromise,” huh?

“WE” are not ready to prioritize “understanding” and common ground with those who voted for four more years of cruelty, racism and death because the WE who want to prioritize that are not the same WE who won the election for us, if you noticed.

When us progressive White people stop thinking we have some kind of natural decision-making authority to negotiate on behalf of marginalized people (but without their permission or presence) to cut deals regarding the extent and timing of THEIR LIBERATION —

When we finally and fully use what power we do have to stand with Black and Indigenous and Latinx and all the people of color who just SAVED OUR ASSES and TOGETHER WE LIBERATE *ALL* OUR POWER from incredibly unjust White-created and maintained systems —

Not when some of us decide it’s strategic to compromise about other people’s rights, but when we are LISTENING TO and LED BY real representation for all the people White supremacy has stolen power from and their rightful power is restored —

THAT is when WE — for the first time EVER, ALL OF US — can decide how to seek unity, and what healing is needed. And that is when our full power will change the terms upon which any negotiation takes place.

I’m trying hard to be done with my own bullshit belief that I can tell people of color what’s in their best interest. My White friends, I suggest you keep trying too. We can try together if you want. I’d like that.

Black lives matter.