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Donald Trump is going to be our next president, and I am heartbroken. No, I am not upset because I am a democrat (which I’m not, but that’s beside the point). I am not upset because I do not agree with Trump’s policies.
I am upset because the man that is going to be put in office in January is going to set this country backwards. I am not upset because I am against Donald Trump’s policies, I do not care about his policies, this is personal.
I am not worried about the policies Donald Trump will put in place when he is the head of our nation. I do not think that Trump will get into office and be able to create a bunch of radical legislation, but I do think that Donald Trump is going to greatly effect the atmosphere of this nation, in fact, I think he already has.
Donald Trump gives a voice to the silent majority of this country who are bigoted. I now have to live in a country were people feel that it is okay to be a bigot. Growing up, I have always been lucky. I have not had many instances in which people were overtly racist to me, yet I feel like that is going to change very soon. I can sit here and say that I will not let it effect me, but having been in those situations before, I know that it is easier said than done.
Not only am I worried about how a Trump run America will affect me, I am also worried about how it will effect my family.
My younger sister is starting college next year. College is hard. College will be even harder in an America were people think it is okay to be bigots and try to tear her down. People have tried to tear me down and tell me that I can’t succeed in college in a pre-trump America, so I am absolutely terrified of that hatred that my younger sister will have to face as she takes her next steps in achieving her goals.
My father has done nothing but work hard his entire life. He is fluent in two languages, he helped my grandmother out as she tried to adjust to life in the states and learn english and start her life. He has worked tirelessly to support our family in an economic system that does not want him to strive. Donald Trump is not there for the working class, especially not when the working class is a person of color. My dad has faced enough hatred throughout his life, and I am not ready for him to face more under this administration.
My mom is white, but she is a women and she is part of a Puerto Rican family. When my parents first got together they received so much hatred because they were in love and they were different races. My parents fought through so much adversity for love. They felt that America has made progress. I do not want this presidency to make them feel any different. If bigots feel that it is okay to spew the same hatred that it seemed okay to spew back when they were originally dating in the 80’s. Trump is against my parents and their kids.
What gets me the most, is that I have four younger brothers. One is ten, another is nine, then seven, and then five. Even though they sometimes get on my nerves, they are some of the sweetest kids out there. How am I supposed to explain to them why Donald Trump is in office even though he says horrible things about people of our race? I was lucky enough to grow up in an era of the first black president, a man of integrity who wanted nothing but greatness and unity for our country. Throughout Obama’s presidency, I always felt like America was for everyone, now I can see that sentiment slipping away.
My brothers are unlucky. They have to grow up under the presidency of a man who thinks of them as nothing but future construction workers at best, and future drug dealers at worst. No matter the color of their skin, my little brothers deserve to grow up under the leadership of a man or woman who sees the full potential in everyone. My brothers are not going to be drug dealers, and they are not going to be construction workers (unless they really have a passion for construction, then who am I to stop them?). They are going to be doctors, lawyers, teachers, engineers, or whatever it is they set their minds out to be. Who knows, they might even be president.
But while I have all of the faith in the world for my four favorite boys, our president doesn’t, and I know that will take a toll on them.
Donald Trump is bringing us so far back, that me and many other people of color are afraid for their future. My president should not make me fear the future. The president should give me hope, not fear. I fear for my livelihood, my career, and my mental health in the future. I fear for my siblings and my parents. I fear for all of the other minorities in America.
I am terrified.
Now that this election has come and gone, I know I need to take the next steps. I refuse to let my younger siblings grow up in a society where they are undermined because of who they are. I refuse to let my parents face the same discrimination that they once faced. I refuse to let America become divisive.
America is for EVERYONE, and even with a hateful man in office, I want to do everything in my power to remind people of that. I have always been outspoken and have tried to fight for what is right, and while Trump’s win has made me a little bit more cynical and has made me question why I have spent so much time trying to make the world better, I am not going to stop. I am going to fight hate with love because love trumps hate, we are better together, and when they go low, we go high.
Even though I am scared for the future, I am not ready to give up the fight to make sure my family and I can live a life that is equal to those of the majority.