Bifurcation impedes Liberation

Racism is one of the most prevalent evils in American society and it has been the cause nearly all domestic unrest since the end of slavery. However, the fight for black freedom is exceptionally complicated in the current moment due to the fracturing of political power. In the era typically associated with the Civil Rights Movement, it was much easier for allies of the movement to identify which politicians to vote for based upon their policies. Either a candidate was either against segregation or they weren’t. In the years that followed the movement, American society began to bifurcate even further as other oppressed groups gained the courage to fight for their natural rights.

               The bifurcation the black vote was especially detrimental because this has led to the slow decay of the minority vote. This was evident in the 2016 election as Donald Trump rode to the white house on the backs of white working-class voters while young black (mostly male) voters stood by and let it happen because Bernie Sanders lost the Democratic primary.

Bifurcations along generational lines have also weakened the black the black vote due to differences in moral values. Black people have never been monolithic in thought, and they never will be. However, in the current system the black community cannot afford to be split at certain times and 2016 was that time. In the wake of Donald Trump’s election, it has become blatantly obvious that America still has a long way to go when it comes to race relations and the conversation is just getting started.

Now that the American political landscape is more fragmented than ever, off kilter alliances must be made to advance the wellbeing of the black community. White liberals must step out of their online echo chambers and coffee shops and start to actively reach out to people of color. People of color must be willing to accept help from white liberals while still ensuring that their voices are not drowned out and/or being used as puppets.

This is where we have to take the quote “Injustice anywhere, is a threat to justice everywhere” seriously and start applying this logic if we want to see oppressed groups truly get free.