White skin wins: A psychologist’s view of the US election
Trump’s election evokes terror, hopelessness, grief, apathy, trauma responses, shock at fellow Americans, world-weariness that others are catching up to what you’ve always known.
These reactions (and more) are valid and I hope you can make space for them.
Managing your emotions may be all you can do right now and that’s okay. Take it day by day.
If you seek understanding of how this happened, integrate race into your exploration.
From questioning Obama’s citizenship to being convicted of sexual abuse and admiring his own “beautiful white” skin, Trump ascended to power on a golden escalator of white supremacy and patriarchy that has always existed.
The US’s economic achievements are built on slavery, genocide and patriarchy. European colonizers justified centuries of terror by declaring themselves racially superior according to “God.”
Patriarchy multiplied racism for Black and indigenous women. White women were rendered inferior to men but pure and innocent, perpetual victims who also inflicted racial trauma.
The election showed that white supremacy and patriarchy is still who we are.
“So…you are blaming white people?”
No, the issue is white supremacy. But white people have the most to gain from it. This helps explain why most voted for him, regardless of their gender. The majority of Latino men also voted for him.
Guskin et al. (2024) Exit polls from the 2024 presidential election. Washington Post
Trump did not just gain ground with Latine folk; he also improved with Asians and other racial groups, especially men. Besides white people, men from these non-Black groups benefit the most from white supremacy and patriarchy. But proximity to whiteness will not save them.
Despite its insidious harm, the topic of whiteness is avoided even in discussions of diversity. How can we heal what we refuse to name?
We have to dismantle white supremacy at every level of society. This journey starts with ourselves. Learn about white supremacy, name it when it arises, and recognize your roles in upholding it.
White supremacy’s main weapon is fear. Not letting fear consume or isolate us may be a full-time, daily struggle. Search for beauty in the everyday. Re-evaluate coping tools.
Practice a mantra for your fears. When afraid, reach out. We can seek strength from our loved ones, therapists, ancestors...
We may live with dread but we don’t have to navigate with fear.
Many of us will be afraid in a Trump administration, but some will live under constant threat, like folk who are Black, trans, and/or femme. Consider whose burdens will be especially heavy. Become a safe person they can borrow strength from.
Wear your oxygen mask before helping others, even if you can only get it on halfway.
The election results force us to grapple with our neighbors, friends, family, colleagues, etc. We tend to trust that our people don’t want to see us harmed. Votes for Trump can violate that trust and make us question our faith in humanity.
Practice setting boundaries. Rest. Refuse to settle for harm.
Connect when you feel safe to do so, especially when it’s hard. That’s how intimacy is developed.
Community is how we will survive.
Please be kind and gentle with yourself. Our bodies are in high alert. Pet an animal. Scream. Hug a tree. Take a social media break. Hold your loved ones tight. Sob.
We are in this together.
