You know I thought about your piece and woke up with it on my mind. It bothers me. Having been involved in politics and public policy for a long time, allow me to throw this perspective out — and why I am beginning to change my mind about Fairfax leaving (I’m sure I’m going to be some push back from folks reading it but — oh well).
Trump has been accused — he’s President. Kavanaugh was a sitting federal judge when he was accused — he’s a Supreme Court Justice. Clarence Thomas was when he was a judge accused — now he’s a Supreme Court Justice. Anthony Weiner was a Congressman — got to keep his job until he fucked up again. Rep. Rep. Ruben Kihuen, a sitting Nevada Congressman got caught up — did not resign and retained his power. Rep. Blake Farenthold was a sitting Congressman when he was a accused. He did not resign, he left at the end of his term. I can go on and on. Both parties have nasty nasties.
White men (and those passing/living as such) are allowed to move on despite our calls for them to leave. We Black folks follow suit. I do realize many politicians will resign (for different reasons) but too many do not. Why should Fairfax be any different?
When a brother gets tangled up in his underwear — we want him gone, and Whites are happy to see him go for he was to have never risen to the same levels of power extended to them in politics and government. When Black folks leave — it’s a very long time before we are able to return to power, if ever. We always shoot ourselves in the ass holding ourselves to this different, holier-than-thou standard. It gets us nowhere. It keeps us behind. Men are a piece of work — yep. Men do all sorts of things — yep.
But why do White men get the option of retaining their power and making a way for the next White person to fill their spot, while we Black folks are all emotional just waiting the brother to leave with no foresight into our paths forward in positions of power in the future?
This is bothering me.
Having lived in the South all of my life, we get very few leaders of color, and when we do they are usually not really in office to serve all the people — they usually are there to serve and represent Whiteness.
If Justin Fairfax goes then they all need to go. If we are justifying sins — all three in the states capital are sinners. I’m not calling for Fairfax a saint by no means. He is as nasty likely as the next dude. But my problem is that we force ours out of office without thinking of all the pieces and the double-standards.
Whiteness gets to keep office no matter what we think about their allegations, especially if not convicted of a crime (felons can’t hold office). Blackness must is expected to cede power and we co-sign. Smh
I’ve been thinking!!!!!!!!!!!!!
