Forgive for my rant in advance, folks.
There’s a lot of talk of fraud in the conduct and tabulation of the presidential vote. But the people doing that, they’re not questioning the propriety of the vote in Nebraska, which went for Trump. They’re not questioning the vote in Alabama, which went for Trump. They’re not questioning the vote in Iowa, which went for Trump. They’re not questioning vote in Mississippi, which went for Trump.
Note that in very white states like Oregon or Washington, the vote is not questioned.
What I see is this assumption among certain people that if Trump is losing PA, it must be because of fraud in Philadelphia, which just happens to be an urban center with lots of black folks. If Trump is losing GA, it must be because of fraud in Atlanta, an urban center with lots of black folks. If Trump is losing MI, it must be because of fraud in Detroit, an urban center with lots of black folks. Etc, etc.
That is, if Trump gets a victory thanks to white people in a red state, it’s automatically assumed to be legitimate. Nothing to look at there. But if Biden gets a victory in a blue or purple state, especially one with a huge black urban presence, it’s assumed to be illegitimate. Because, well, black people.
I’m sick of it.
Why can’t it be that a lot of people in Philly, especially black people in Philly, simply don’t like Trump, and voted heavily against him? Why can’t it be that a lot of people in Detroit, especially black people in Detroit, simply don’t like him, and voted heavily against him? And so on for other states with cities with large black or brown populations?
I understand that the Biden/Harris folks don’t want to make a ruckus about this. They want to rise above this voting controversy, and focus on preparing to govern.
But I wish someone in the press (preferable a number of people in the press) would point out that the claims of fraud are mainly being associated with black and brown people. This needs to be countered with the response that yes, black and brown people do vote, they vote in large numbers, they don’t like Trump, and it’s racist and ridiculous to assume or presume that a large anti-Trump vote in black or brown urban centers are fraudulent.
We need to call out this bias for what it is. I’m tired of black folks being scapegoated, dismissed, lied about. Respect our virtue and power, darn it… for once.