Donald Trump, a White man who is running for US president in 2016, says he wants to “Make America Great Again”, by which he means the US. He wears a hat that says the same. It is an old Reagan slogan from 1979.
Hillary Clinton, a White woman who is running for president, says, “America never stopped being great.”
Krystal Lake, a Black woman who supports Bernie Sanders for president, thinks “America was never great.” She wears a hat that says just that:
Lake:
“The message that other people are trying to send out is that, America’s this wonderful place, like nothing bad ever happened in the world, but it never was great so I feel like it was a lie, so I wanted to show people that, no, it never was great.”
She had the hat made online. On Sunday May 15th 2016, the day after she got it, she wore it to work at Home Depot in Staten Island (the same part of New York City where the police killed Eric Garner).
Home Depot does have a policy against wearing “items that reflect political statements” while at work. But over the past two months some of her fellow workers have been wearing “Vote for Trump” pins and no one said anything.
On Sunday she wore her hat to work and no one said anything either – not the shoppers, not fellow workers, not the managers. But, unknown to her, one Joey Carlino took her picture wearing the hat and posted it online on Facebook, saying, “A Home Depot in Staten Island. What a joke.”
Wednesday morning her friends kept calling: her picture was all over Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and elsewhere on the Internet! She was shocked.
She received dozens of death threats and was being called the N-word left and right. She was told that she did not know much, that she hated America, that she should go back to Africa.
She was not afraid of the death threats, but she was surprised: “It’s just a hat.”
Lake notes:
“I feel it offended a lot of people because a lot of Trump supporters live in Staten Island. Trump is very rash and in your face, but when someone else has a message against him, his supporters can’t take the criticisms.”
They admire Trump for speaking his mind, but not her.
On Trump:
“If you’re not the race that he would want, or whether it’s sexual preference, if you have any disabilities, your financial status, race, everything, all of that combined, or even if you don’t think like him, he will automatically write you off … having Trump as a president definitely wouldn’t make America better.”
That is, in fact, the message of Donald Trump’s hat: the only time the US was ever great for anyone was for the straight White men it was designed for. For everyone else, it has only slowly been getting better, two steps forward, one step back. Trump, judging from his hat, wants to take a step back.
– Abagond, 2016.
Sources: mainly the New York Times, RT and Snopes.
See also:
- 2016 election
- America
- Ronald Reagan
- go back to Africa
- N-word
- Eric Garner
- White paternalism
- American exceptionalism
535
Lake is right on!
How can a country full of dysfunctional families (and institutions) on so many levels be a GREAT nation??
The *Light On A Hill* nonsense is a clever stage production. Amerika has too many un-examined skeletons in its closet. Amerika has been steadily led in the wrong direction since its inception.
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I feel Ike everytime someone says the phrase “Make America Great Again” should be followed by photos or litanies of the atrocities committed against its citizens. It should just be followed by photos of white people behaving at their most barbaric.
I feel like everytime a white person mentions some wrong they think black people are committing, that should also be followed by lists of white peoples atrocities, too.
Just because they want so much to forget how things were done, “back inna day”, doesn’t mean the rest of us have forgotten, nor are we going to let them. (That may account for the sheer levels of batsh***ery, we’ve been seeing since the 80s.) it certainly accounts for the angry response of this woman’s detractors. She has called into question every lie they believe about the world and built their lives around.
I just hope she stays safe. We haven’t forgotten how violent white people get when you call them a liar to their face.
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Trumpspeak: Make America
greatwhite again.LikeLiked by 4 people
Perhaps America never was great but if we use our heads in time we can make this country great. In view of the current presidential candidates the upcoming November election is pretty much a wash out in my opinion. This time we elect the one who can do the people the least damage however but until next election people in this country should ban TOGETHER put one of their own in office instead of another white, male millionaire type in office regardless of race, religion/non-religion, gender, economic status in ALL ELECTIVE offices. Time to end the BS! With world the way it is we may not have long to continue to try GOD’S patience.
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The response to her hat perfectly illustrates her point, I think. We have a long way to go to get to “greatness”.
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America was never great because it’s people were never great. America was founded with very progressive enlightened views of man but the truth was those views excluded everyone who wasn’t white. So forward onward marched American Imperialism wrecking havoc “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.”
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Greatness is such a subjective term that I assume every period of time has people remembering it as great.
@ Kiwi
I would say conservatives instead of white people, white liberals tend to romanticize the sixties. But other than that I noticed that too. Could have something to do with the 50s being the last “intact” decade prior to the changes of the value changes that came in the wake of the 68 protests, while also being rather prosperous and peaceful (for White people).
Another explanation would be that many see it positively because of their family history. A lot of people in Western Europe and North America ascended from crushing poverty to some economic safety during that period. While that is also true for many non-whites, for White people there were no draw-backs that would make them remember the era negatively.
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I have many thoughts about this the statement on the cap very true especially if you are African/Black American, white people love to romanticize the good old days and develop amnesia when it comes to thinking about Black peoples who were denied basic civil rights in this country. Being told there is no bathroom or water fountains that were decent and other savage and horrible things they did to Black people. We never need to let them forget the nightmares and carnage they created. This young woman has a lot of moxie and I hope she stays safe. Donald Trump and his rabid racist supporters need to be committed.
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” people in this country should ban TOGETHER put one of their own”
Not possible. The system is designed to prevent that from happening. It was real cute how they played on the illusion that it could with the Barack Obama program. They made a mockery of it. They gave us the most conservative, imperialist, corporate president to date and made him acceptable to us by given him a black face and having him declare he was one of us. He never was.
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Only people who have a basic love for other human beings, no matter what their shortcomings are – can America great – if there ever was an “again.”
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I think the lady has a right to wear the hat. Perhaps the hat reflex a truth which cannot be denied!
Each of has to live in our own political reality and face the consequences of our action!
I hope she understood the political reality of “spitting into the face” of others who have strong emotions!
Now who will actually support her if she is fired and can no longer find work in her local community or treated like dirt on the job!
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@ Mirkwood
I oppose the idea on a couple of different levels. First America hasn’t been great for Native Americans, non whites and some religious minorities.
Secondly I oppose the ideology of Nationalism. It leads to oppression and War.
FDR did some good things to help Americans through the depression but he did little to oppose Jim Crow and he did detain Japenese Americans and put them into camps.
What would people think if their was a movement in Germany that was “Let’s make Germany great again”.
People here would think that it was a reference to Hitler and a return to facsim. Similarly some people hear what Trump says and think it’s a call to ramp up it’s intolerant past.
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If Donald Trump can speak his mind, but she can’t, it demonstrates that Freedom of Speech is only for straight white males.
All in all, I think Trump and his supporters truly doesn’t want to make America “great”. They just want it so that straight white males have so many privileges and freedoms and never having to be held responsible for anything they do to whoever they want to do it to. If they want to hate and fear blacks, Latinos, women and whoever else, they want to live in a world where doing so would not have any consequences, conscience or flack from the left and the people they hate. In other words, they want to give straight white men infinite freedom.
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People that are trying to hurt her or denying her her freedom of speech is proving her point: “America was never that great”
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@Kiwi
People born in 1958 will remember the 60s-70s in their childhood. They will have no meaningful memory of anything before Kennedy was shot. They might be able to remember the Jim Crow signs coming down without an understanding at that age of what that meant. They were too young to serve in Vietnam.
What they may remember are the 60s riots, mandatory desegregation, affirmative action, etc. — when they actually felt the loss of those privileges. Their parents would have told them what it was like in the good ole days when THEY were growing up.
A few of those born in 1958 had parents who were involved in the WWII war effort.
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I’ll play devil’s advocate.
I think the real issue people with her is of Black folks CONSTANTLY saying the country and it’s government isn’t good enough. CONSTANTLY blaming the white man for their problems. And not to play the whole tired ‘go back to Africa’ bit, but if she actually went to live in Africa, she’d be wishing within 5 seconds that she was back in good ol’ US and A.
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@ TJS2016
Are you a white person?
Nevertheless, I’ll play the devil’s advocate, challenger.
Given the immense size and diversity of the African continent – AND countries, why are you certain as a devils advocate that she’d be wishing within 5 seconds that “she was back in the good ol’ US and A”?
How many African nations have you been to?
Moreover, it would be highly unlikely that her she would receive death threats in Africa because of her views regarding Amerika’s supposed greatness so I’m not certain why you would believe she’d hastily return to Amerika, even as a DA (devil’s advocate).
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@ TJS2016
Why is it when White men criticize the US no one tells them to go back to Europe?
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@abagond
Well I have heard people tell a White person to MOVE to Europe or GO to Europe. But never to GO BACK to Europe.
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I personally think America is great…..for shopping!
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@ Fan
Great points!
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“I feel it offended a lot of people because a lot of Trump supporters live in Staten Island. Trump is very rash and in your face, but when someone else has a message against him, his supporters can’t take the criticisms.”
Now that is why I think the “PC police” thing is bullshit. The people who scream “PC Police” the loudest are the easiest to offend.
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@villagewriter
Like!
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Abagond said,
“Why is it when White men criticize the US no one tells them to go back to Europe?”
When they do, they are called ‘liberals and libtards’. They are told that they hate America. Back in the day, they were called ‘communists’. But you’re right, they are never told to go back to Europe.
I think it’s because they see them as more “American” than they see POC. I guess that’s why they tell black folks to go back to Africa even though most of them were born in the U.S. They don’t see us as truly American.
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@Brothawolf
“that’s why they tell black folks to go back to Africa even though most of them were born in the U.S. They don’t see us as truly American.”
Another wrinkle is that the average Black family has been on this soil for twice as long as the average White family. That’s not counting the Native American or White colonial ancestors.
Make that three times as long if the Black family has roots in the New England states or Louisana.
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@ Afrofem
Right, this “go back to Africa” mindset certainly does not come from a family history of Whites having been in the US longer. Instead it is rooted in White paternalism: Blacks are supposed to shut up, know their place and be “grateful”.
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The negative responses come from Trump supporters who I have found to be the most ignorant, idiotic and racist people on the planet. Just because this young lady chose to freely express her views. It is that lying, narcissist Trump that has promoted this environment of intolerance.
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Well if they respond “Go back to Africa” I would have to tell them “Hey fool i am going to have to hitch a ride with you because you are the one who brought me here.”
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So the young woman Krystal Lake’s white co-workers get to express their freedom of speech and support Donal Trump but Krystal Lake can’t express herself in disgust of DT and how crappy this country was and kind of still is in regard to Black people. The double standard is so foul. The white people get to express themselves supporting the vermin DT and Krystal Lake is threatened with death threats and racial slurs. But this is typical of Trump’s moronic and demonic supporters.
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@Abagond
So true. If a Black person is not “grateful”, they are labeled “hateful”.
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@ Mary Burrell
“Hey fool i am going to have to hitch a ride with you because you are the one who brought me here.”
LOL! You know they are too cheap to drive to the next state over much less travel abroad.
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@Afrofem: LOL!
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@Pierre: You are so right.
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Equality feels like oppression that’s why the racist bigots get mad. They feel their privilege slipping away.
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Racist New Yorkers showing their true colours yet again…and many of them will be the first to tell you how racist southerners are. I maintain that New York is one of the America’s most racist cities–far more than most big southern cities.
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Yeh. Back in the good ol days.
(https://youtu.be/gFZ-1EojoFM)
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Has anyone seen this? What do u guys think?
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPHSXUS0_1c)
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Yes, the first part of his speech was right on. I don’t know about the premise that America was great once, which he tacked on to the end of his rant. Certainly it was greater than it is now. Led by morons like George Bush and slick morons like Barack Obama. Psychopathic morons. The peace prize president has led us directly to the brink of World War III.
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America is/was great, but not in the way people (many) see it as not being so. America is great because of the resilience of the Black Americans who had to overcome extreme obstacles (white supremacy) and are still doing so. That is the context in which I see America as great (I may be biased as I am descended from runaway slaves). As for the rest? It ain’t.
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I agree with Herneith America is/was great because of the resilience of Black Americans who had to overcome obstacles and are still fighting social injustice. I too am biased. Again I am like James Baldwin’s quote: “To be a Negro in this country and be relatively conscious is to in a rag e almost all the time.” I am enraged when clueless and stupid white people don’t understand what that Black lives matter and they get angry because Black people demand justice for the killings of unarmed Black citizens are killed. I am enraged when a Black man is choked to death and the killers walk free. I could go on and on but I am going stop now less I become one of those horrible angry and ugly Black women that certain people in this country like to label Black women with or say I am playing that Oppression Olympics game where I am a victim. Drops mic rant over.
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*rage*^^
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@Nomad: That is what that dog Trump calls the “good ole days ” Black people getting physically assaulted for fighting for their civil/human rights. That is what Trump and his sick supporters want to bring back Jim Crow.
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@ Hernieth
You are quite eloquent today. Are you enjoying a delicious California Roll with Ikura? LOL!
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@ Mary Burrell
Sometimes rants can relieve the pressure and be therapeutic.
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I stopped drinking! No just kidding. I had a delicious egg omelet with cheddar cheese and an English muffin slathered with margarine. After being on the shi**er most of the night I deserved a substantial breakfast. Must of cleaned me out!
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The white supremacist claim African descent people have low IQs The fact that this goof is actually in the running, flinging sound bites as potential policy at everyone, puts paid to that notion. This is based on that fact they are falling hook line and sinker for this turd. There IQ. must be 4o based on this,
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@Afrofem: Rants are therapeutic. That’s how I know when these racist white people say Black people are prone to violence it is malarkey. If that were so there would be many dead whites.
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I am reminded of the film franchise of The Purge I feel the people who create these films are thinking about the annihilation of Black people and other people who they feel are a drain on society. when I watched that film I immediately thought of Trump and his maniacal followers I don’t think I am just bugging out. These people are evil and I see things trying to go back to the days of Jim Crow. That is why Black folks can’t sleep.
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@ Mary Burrell
Yes, how many times have you or I had some White person say or do something that makes our blood boil, but we take a deep breath and think,
this fool is not worth arguing with…I want to see my kids or nieces/nephews graduate…I can’t afford to get arrested over this…I want to get home alive.
People who are truly prone to violence don’t bother to pull themselves from from the edge of that rage cliff—-they just act with no thought of consequences to themselves or others.
Trump supporters are a very scary bunch!
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@ Herneith
Trump makes them feel soooooooooooooooo very good.
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@Afrofem: Yes we must pick our battles.
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Let’s not put it all on white people. The functionaries I run into generally exhibit the same racial bias, be they black or white. What we see with the police where black cops exhibit the same prejudice as white cops permeates every aspect, every profession of our society. I encounter it every day.
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@Nomad
True. Perhaps a more accurate description is “The System” or “The Establishment”.
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@Afrofem
Yeah. Definitely the system. Babylon System.
(https://youtu.be/vigg50lRPOE)
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When was America great? Before the white man and woman gate-crashed as uninvited guests.
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What does one expect from flat-earth creationists who worship an oompa loompa look-alike? Jim Crow is their garden of Eden. They believe that ugly orange trogolodyte is their political Messiah.
Stupid Thinskin Caucasians.
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@Mary Burrell:
We should tell them: “It’s okay. It’s okay. You’re not being oppressed. You’re not being oppressed. It’s just the privilege wearing off — just coming off your high. You’re returning to reality now. This is just withdrawal. It will pass.” while patting them on the back. Granted, we can’t do that on a racial level. But if the White race were a single person and there some outside “nurse” to mediate this, that’s what I’d imagine it looking like during a mild flareup.
It seems the American White race, or at least the racist element anyways, is starting to undergo a collective “Racial Privilege Withdrawal Syndrome”. As like any drug withdrawal, there is a high potential for relapse during the withdrawal period (Trump is like a bottle of pills) and the patient must be carefully monitored to prevent that and suitable treatment administered as necessary until they are back on their feet to reality. Even afterwards, long-term monitoring is advisable to prevent further relapses. “The price of liberty is eternal vigilance”, various people are quoted as having said.
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