I’m old enough to remember when clothing first became a major form of advertisement, self or Calvin Klein et al. Loathe to become a walking billboard, I’d tried resisting—buying vintage proved an excellent strategy—but over time I reluctantly had to accept that resistance was futile; this branding phenomenon was here to stay. (And that I would continue to buy vintage; Goodwill.)

So I’m not exactly sure what led me to buy, retail/online, a KAMALA baseball cap. But am so glad I did.

Because although I am now, indeed, a walking billboard for a presidential candidate, what’s happening is that my cap, an anti-MAGA statement, is inviting total strangers, many of them People of Color, to chat.

What I’m hearing in these conversations is both excitement that a brilliant, strong Woman of Color just might have a shot at the presidency and the steely, reasoned, cold, hard pragmatism of Let’s Go With Whoever’s Going To Win. So maybe, sigh, one of those Old White Guys and Kamala for Veep?

None of this much matters yet. But then, I’m a Quaker, so I’m comfortable with lots of different ideas, different possibilities, different What Ifs tossed round—and trusting that something worthwhile will eventually emerge. That the Democratic Party will do The Right Thing. Whatever that will look like. Which, admittedly, given the horrors of America’s political reality like special interests and racism and sexism, is probably crazy. Although “Knock Down the House,” which I just saw, certainly gives me hope.

Meanwhile, about Kamala Harris. And me. And why I’m rocking her merch. Because, no, she’s far from my ideal candidate. My understanding, for example, is that she has not signed the pledge to refuse fossil fuel campaign contributions. (Note to KH: “C’mon!”)

No, Dear Reader, as crazy as what I am about to say is, here’s why I hope she wins: Remember during one of the debates, when Hillary was talking and Trump was pacing back in forth behind her? (And as a former TV star, he knew he was in camera view.)

Here’s what I’m pretty sure Kamala would have done. She would have stopped. She would have turned around. She would have said something like, “Donald? You are losing votes right now. Every woman who has ever been bullied or imposed upon or threatened by a man—and that’s all of us—is watching you right now. And deciding not to vote for you. And every Person of Color who has ever experienced a white man claim a space to be his property, his turf—and that’s all of us—is thinking the same thing. Sit Down.”

 

 

 

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7 Comments

  1. I love this Patricia! The old white dudes have had their day. Bring in brilliant and powerful women of color. Maybe we can have Elizabeth Warren as VP.

  2. Testing to see if my comment goes through, sister Patricia. I left my comment but it didn’t go through-it said I think invalid captcha something. I’ll test here and try again.

  3. Sister, it won’t let me leave my longer comment so I’ll try a shorter response, my absolutely AWESOME sisterfriend, Patricia!

  4. I’ve been so, so very sad that I’ve been struggling with my physical medical health and physical disabilities preventing me from being on the computer as much as I so love to do and leaving my responses and all, my darling sisterfriend, Patricia! 🙂 <3

  5. Sistah, YOU’VE just gone straight to this black woman’s very heart and spirit as your ever lovin’ black sisterfriend with this beautifully brilliant blog post article with such keen words acting as such a healing balm, Patricia!

  6. Sistah, YOU ARE such an awesome and steadfast, empowering, loyal, loving, kind, and caring sister and friend and white anti-racist woman soul sistahfriend, Patricia, for ME and other persons of color!

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