Grieve. And when you are ready, take heart: Our population is still growing increasingly non-white-male. Is this the last gasp before old-fashioned traditional power is relinquished? The thrashing of the death throes of the patriarchy? Maybe it's just a bigger thrashing and gasping than we expected. The numbers are clear: we will continue to trend upward as an inclusive population, despite this downtick in equity.
We people of privilege, including white women, can take some comfort by being helpful to people who will have it worse than us.
We must join together with the victims of the new regime to fight like mad to guarantee a Democratic Party majority in the Senate at the midterm elections in two years. Stop whining about the lack of alternative political parties, recognize that this two-party structure is here to stay, and use it against them. Turn the Senate blue so Supreme Court justices and other federal judges that are replaced after the midterm elections won't be right-wingers or religious extremists. The rational judges are getting older but can still give us those two yesrs.
And marginalised, disempowered people can build a wall of sandbags by getting involved in municipal government. It's the first line of defense against a flood of oppression. Women, gay people, lainx-Americans, people of color, Muslims-- run for office and WIN. Speak for your concerns, and use the small powers of local government to provide a bastion of safety against anything that might happen at the state and federal level.
And good people, both privileged and from marginalized groups, keep getting educated and experienced in your profession. Get leadership jobs. Fight corporate cultures that don't treat women, gay people, and people of color with respect and equity.
Those are the front lines from which to fight these battles, and win. The enemies of equity are growing old and dying off. They WILL be outnumbered. It's a holding action for a while, maybe, but decency and honour will prevail.
This cancer can still be defeated. Rest, regroup, and then push back! You have allies.
