Opinion: #MitchPlease, Black Americans are Americans

[LetMyPeopleVote]

MoscowMitch confirmed that the GOP does not think that only white persons are really Americans.

Link to tweet

When asked on Wednesday what he would tell voters of color who fear they won’t be able to vote in November’s midterm elections because of the Senate’s failure to pass the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, the Kentucky Republican said, “If you look at the statistics, African American voters are voting in just as high percentage as Americans.”

First off, McConnell knows how misleading this is. He ignores all the hoops and hurdles Black voters (and the young and the elderly) have to jump through and over not only to register to vote, but to actually cast a vote on Election Day. This doesn’t even take into account the millions who are being discouraged from even trying to vote.

But secondly — and far more importantly — African Americans are Americans. Isn’t it sad that really the only times I feel seen as an American are when I’m abroad? I’m not saying racism doesn’t exist outside of the United States. What I am saying is that the rest of the world can see that I’m American. Why is it so hard for so many White Americans?.....

Even if the measured McConnell did misspeak, the slip shows how ossified the assumptions in our political discourse still are: “White” is always the default. Talk of suburban voters is really about White suburban voters. Women voters really means White women. And, as McConnell put it, American voters really means White American voters.

[wryter2000]

1. I think the racist asshole did misspeak

But this author is also correct in that this sort of misspeaking is only possible because default is white in this society.

I don't think McConnell would have intentionally said it because it would give him away as a racist asshole.

[Cha]

2. Rt TY

[LetMyPeopleVote]

3. Thank you to everyone sharing your #MitchPlease stories

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