Over the past few days, as I visited an HBCU, I was reminded of the tens of thousands of young, educated Black students working hard toward their futures. These students, like many of us, have been exposed to the very worst aspects of our society—from the way the Obamas were treated to the rise of the Trump administration, and even now with the Biden administration. The MAGA movement has unleashed waves of division and hatred that seem unfathomable, yet here we are, with nearly half of America still supporting that toxic mindset.
In talking with some of these young minds, I felt the need to share something important: there is no need to hate white people. That statement earned me a few surprised looks. But here's the truth: the racism many white people have bought into is a lie. Deep down, they know it. On some level, they are aware that their superiority is built on fiction, not fact.
With the downfall of Trump and the rise of leaders like Kamala Harris, white people are being forced to see themselves for who they really are.
Kamala and Trump (and his MAGA followers) now mirrors reflecting their white America’s own weaknesses, while Black leaders (and black college students) reflecting that there is no inherent superiority. As a result, white America is reckoning with the harsh reality that they are not better than anyone. This mirror has exposed not just their illusions about race but also the struggles they face in their own lives.
The fact is, many white people are far from privileged. Most white people struggle financially, many have broken marriages, and addiction to drugs or alcohol is rampant. A significant number of white families rely on family social services (welfare), Medicare (welfare), or Social Security (welfare) to get by. So when some of them claim they are no longer privileged, they are right—they aren’t.
There was a time when they had a significant societal advantage, but somewhere along the line, they squandered it. Whether through their own actions or those of their ancestors, that lead is gone.
When they chant about "making America great again," the real question becomes: When exactly was it great for you? The reality is, it never was—at least not in the way they imagined. The comfort they found wasn't in genuine greatness but in the myth of superiority, a false belief that provided emotional relief.
Now, they are being forced to face that fiction, and the loss of that false sense of superiority is a painful reckoning. But it's one we all need to face together, to move forward as a society where no one stands above another based on race, and where privilege is no longer built on the backs of falsehoods.
Life Application:
Take a moment to examine your own perceptions of privilege, race, and societal structure. Have you ever believed in or felt impacted by the idea that one race holds more inherent value than another? Consider how these beliefs may shape the way you view others and, more importantly, how you view yourself. True strength lies in unity and mutual respect, not in the false narratives that divide us.
Self-Assessment Questions:
Have you ever found yourself influenced by societal myths about race or privilege?
In what ways do you see those myths reflected in the world around you?
How do you respond when faced with ideas or beliefs that challenge long-held perceptions?
What steps can you take to build a mindset that values equality and truth over fiction?
When you consider the future of America, what kind of society do you want to contribute to?