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Steward Beckham's avatar

This piece is blistering, but it’s blistering because it’s true.

Every election cycle, we’re told that the Democratic Party is the only thing standing between us and fascism. We vote accordingly. And every cycle, Democratic leadership fails to meaningfully push back on the policies and rhetoric that harm us.

We watched them kneel in kente cloth. We watched them refuse to codify voting rights. We watched them run from police reform, shrink from student debt relief, and deprioritize DEI the moment white voters said it wasn’t their issue.

Now, we’re here—Trump is back, DEI is gutted, and Democrats are retreating to their usual place of comfort: moderation, white appeasement, and weak symbolism.

So, what now?

For decades, we’ve been told we have no alternative—that not voting or leaving the party only strengthens the right. But if we’re already in the worst-case scenario—if marginalized groups are already under attack, and Democrats have already decided we’re politically disposable—then why should we keep investing in a party that won’t fight for us? What if, instead, we invested in ourselves?

What if we built independent Black, Latino, and Indigenous power outside of a party that sees us as expendable?

What if we refused to keep playing a game rigged against us—one where our votes are demanded but our needs are ignored?

What if we stopped asking for scraps and started demanding real political infrastructure that actually serves us?

This isn’t about letting Trump win. Trump already won. The worst is already happening.

This is about making sure that when the next cycle of history begins, we aren’t just pawns on the chessboard of Democratic politics—but the architects of a system that no longer requires our silence, our suffering, or our lesser evilism to function.

It’s time to stop saving the Democratic Party.

It’s time to start saving ourselves.

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LaIslaMeLlama's avatar

We desperately need more than 2 parties.

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Karen Turley's avatar

I personally am for ranked choice voting. If it (by some miracle in our current situation) was implemented, I think the 2 party system would naturally dissolve. Or at least lose it's dominance.

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LaIslaMeLlama's avatar

That could definitely happen. And I like rank-choice voting too. Lessens the power of the 2 party system.

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Sera Bella's avatar

More than a few black people have never believed the Democrats were on "our side." When you look at the response across the board at this time, few, if any meet the moment.

I didn't bother watching Alissa Slotkin's response. General commentary from multiple sources said it lacked any fight. She, nor Gavin Newsome would ever represent any view I have.

I hope anyone leading the fight against trump is not black. This isn't our fight because we didn't put him in. Historically, we've led the charge for too long in this country with little or no credit nor over due reparations.

It's a big world. There are places and lands that enjoy and embrace us for the brilliance and swag we bring to the table.

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MsMishi's avatar

Blaxit is even more of a thing this time around because why stay where we're never going to be treated as human.

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Sera Bella's avatar

Because I travel, I know being here is like having a monkey on your back. In Texas it was a heavy monkey. Lighter in Illinois, but a monkey none the less.

.

As trump voter torpedoed democracy because they really don't want equality for all, why continue to fight? We've never not fought, but we have choices.

I have multiple exit strategies. I am blessed to know I can create those pathways.

As my mother always said " One monkey (or country) don't stop no show!"

Tru dat Mom!

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MsMishi's avatar

I've been working on the same since his first term. They all showed their true colors back them. All we got is us and helping people escape has to be the priority.

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jtolbertjr's avatar

The Democrats have shown their true colors of prioritizing money grubbing since Clinton’s Democratic Leadership Council. Black people are not a part of that equation. I always remember what Malcolm said long ago: “The white conservatives aren't friends of the Negro either, but they at least don't try to hide it. They are like wolves; they show their teeth in a snarl that keeps the Negro always aware of where he stands with them. But the white liberals are foxes, who also show their teeth to the Negro but pretend that they are smiling. The white liberals are more dangerous than the conservatives; they lure the Negro, and as the Negro runs from the growling wolf, he flees into the open jaws of the "smiling" fox.”

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King David's avatar

Beautifully stated. WE CANT FORGET THAT White Democrats are White before they are Democrats. They will give the Black man a fish now and then but don't you dare ask them to hell you get a net so you can catch your own fish. Keep in mind White Democrats benefit from Trumps war on Black people. They benefit from White Supremacy to. There interest is not our interest. WHITE DEMOCRATS WANT TO PROTECT WHITE PRIVILEGES also. Wish we can start our on Black Party. That's why the only solution is to get away from White people by moving 60 million Black to to 4 or 5 EASTERN Seaboard States than seceding from White Amerikkka and establish our own Black Country. Hopefully we can negotiate our Blaxit from Honkkkkee Land USA but if not we should be prepared to fight to get away from these Caucazoid Neanderthal Demons. A new Black country facing Africa is only solution. New Kemet is a must for Black America. We will never prosper as as people as long as we living around White People. They can't stand Black people succeeding, it's hardwired in there Neanderthal DNA to attack Sapiens-Humans.

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NERISA KEMP's avatar

My parent got into the middle class through the black neighbor we lived in, where my Pops had his own business, and so did his brothers. They were all homeowners living in nice neighborhoods with good schools, grocery stores, and meat markets. My parents were a part of that great migration North. They came North with dreams of a better life, free of festering oppression, and wanting better. Pops told me back when I was a young girl, that he and his brothers were taught never to work for others, especially the 'White man', but to have their own businesses. He said that the reason he was so successful was because of the black community we lived in, supported him, and he would not have been able to have a business anywhere else cause of segregation. God blesses the Child that has his own. We need our own communities, where it's ok to be black. I'm tired of bein their after-thought.

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Amber's avatar

I am so, so, fucking sorry... for ALL of it. This piece needs to be shoved in the face of every elected Democrat, everywhere. Repeatedly. It they still fail to understand it then it should be rolled up into a tight roll so they can be beat over their stupid ass heads with it.

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SMD's avatar

Where's the lie?

So what I'm hearing is we need to either stop voting or vote 3rd party like all those jackals did in this past election? Why? Because MAGAts can only learn the hard way. Liberal and leftists see that there are problems that need fixing, but the only way to fix them is together, with all voices, best idea wins. But to fix it together we need to be having the same conversation (and stop being so hateful towards each other). Except right now one group thinks the sky is blue, the other thinks the sky is a conspiracy against orange Thanos/doesn't care about the sky because they just want to be rich af until they die and leave the sky issue to their grandchildren to solve because they built their wealth on their own without any help and these kids need to figure it out on their own, too.

Anyway, my point is this: WE know it's bad. WE know the boot that oppresses Black Americans is the same boot stepping on poor/"middle class" Wypipo's throats, but because the big Black boot is stepping on their European-descended throats, they can't see past the boot's blackness. The only way out is through; the Jenga tower's gotta fall. We have to wait for *them* to catch up to us... As Justin Simien said at the Spirit Awards: Black Americans have always been living in a fascist country. We know how to survive, and we will survive. But we can't keep trying to save the Wypipo who are not billionaires from themselves. I can't believe I'm saying this as a huge believer in democracy, but I think we need to rescind our vote. Let Dems fall off the cliff and the MAGAts will be right behind them dying of poverty and pestilence from their psychotic policies. We stay surviving.

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BlackMage4Life's avatar

End of the day you aren't wrong, but:

DEI is merely the latest goalpost the right has moved in their 'soothe White egos' campaign. It is a new buzzword for some old shit that needs to be at the core regardless of what it's called. Hell - it's a neutering for White liberals we coopted. The right has gotten **great** at hijacking our shit and the palatable packaging. If the advice is based on polling and they got off it I'm mostly ok - so long as they don't fart around with the innards.

Which is where you're right: the party is capitulating to its White People. Because they cannot be arsed to show up on a good day and are stupid regarding the okie doke. Because even the hyper progressive ones will gleefully throw us under the bus in protests as they know they'd be fine anyway. But: we cannot act like we wouldn't either.

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Shyamala Devi's avatar

I'm starting a new party. The Social Justice Party! I am over them.

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Rain Robinson's avatar

Great essay, provocative and true. I have been waiting for Democrat leadership to jettison the centrist positions and go full on leftist progressive reforms. The near total abandonment of Blacks, the people who are the backbone of liberty and freedom causes in the US, and of regular working class people of all shades of skin, is so obviously a losing position. Democrats have allowed just about any issue in the last few years particularly to be formed by white supremacists. DEI assaults are out and out racist and should be framed that way. The anti-billionaire ideals by AOC, Jasmine Crockett, and Greg Casar, along with Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, should be front and center. Both establishment D's and R's are beholden to their wealthy donors. We need the fervor and actions that the civil rights movement taught us; it is the only way to make change short of another revolution against the Southern plantation ideals of the white supremacists of this current administration. This is what I believe.

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Debbie Davidson's avatar

You are just now figuring out that the DNC does not have an effective message? I've been sending their fundraising appeals back FOR YEARS with this written across them: NOT UNTIL YOU GET ON MESSAGE. Which is this: the Democratic Party has always been on the right side of history; on civil rights, on wages, on working conditions, on clean air/water, pick your issue and progressive action is the reason we enjoy the standard of living we do today! But here's what is puzzling: name ONE piece of legislation since the Great Society initiatives that have benefitted black MEN. One; I'm waiting...

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Jamal X's avatar

Liberals engage in superficial adjustments to existing frameworks while addressing symbolic and aspirational concerns related to Black communities. In contrast, conservatives remain passive, allowing detrimental situations to persist without intervention.

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Matthew Wilder's avatar

To the writers at this site: why would you—and by you I mean you personally, dear writer—think that whites would do anything in your interest if you spew hatred toward them nonstop and cannot get it through your head why they might act in their own interest and not in yours? Whites spent roughly a decade in a position of social-media-policed groveling before “marginalized communities” of several stripes but why would you think that they would actually like it or perform it without a gun to their head via cancel culture?

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XXXX's avatar

Because we white ppl are the ones that put them in “marginalized communities”. Until we take care of the problem we created, we have nothing to say. So, we make it in the politicians best interest to actually take action. How much hatred and anger would you be feeling if you were in this position?

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Matthew Wilder's avatar

Don’t care. Not there. And I didn’t do the crime so I shan’t do the time! If you want Elie Mystal and Joy Reid to live rent free in your head and spank your ass hourly, be my guest!

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Karen Turley's avatar

Then go join your empathy-adverse probable hero, Elon, and GTFOH.

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Matthew Wilder's avatar

It’s a free country. KAREN.

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XXXX's avatar

Wow. That’s quite a strong reaction Mathew. You absolutely get to be angry about being accused of things you feel you didn’t do. And you can also disagree with someone’s position and still have compassion for how they feel and be able to listen. While you might not feel 100% responsible for the plight of a segment of our society, you are a member of our society and bare your part in how it is conducted, as we all do.

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Matthew Wilder's avatar

No. Not “as we all.” Just us!

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XXXX's avatar

So it feels like you are being pushed into being on the “other”side? I get that. And yet, yes us, as in we are ALL in this together. I am making the effort to reach out to you, Mathew, because you are one of the us. “Them” mentality is to express anger and hurt, or lie to play on emotions to manipulate you to act in someone else’s goals . You get to have many types of emotions at the same time, like anger and compassion. And you can still listen to others while you have them. I am so glad you are here! It shows you are still curious and that is a priceless quality.

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Matthew Wilder's avatar

I am happy to disagree with anyone! I don’t cancel people for disagreement. I will say however that nowadays only people on the left say “I just can’t deal with you!!!” over disagreement. People on the right say “Uh….okay,” and have another drink.

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Katie's avatar

Think about it less personally then. Say this to yourself---

The US government with laws and policies that purposely stole from these communities - most consistently, deeply, and transparently from Native Americans and Black Americans - owes restitution to victims of these policies and their descendants.

Elected officials ensured our current disparities. They were not only indifferent, they worked to achieve this. Just because the plan is dismantling doesn't mean there is no obligation to right wrongs. Our past government is still responsible for the harms it did to its citizens.

Courts are awarding the return of Nazi-looted paintings to decents. Victims of Jim Crow aren't even at retirement age. I met a woman in her early forties who attended a BIE boarding school at a education workshop this year.

Not necessarily even adequate restitution, but government leaders have authorized payments to victims of Japanese American imprisonment during WWII and for Native Americans and Indian Country such as returning land, repatriation of cultural artifacts, etc.

Our taxes help people financially recover from natural disasters. Surely we owe citizens harmed by the leaders of their own country.

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Matthew Wilder's avatar

You’re missing my point. It is not in my interest to collaborate with or mollify people who explicitly seek my destruction…or, let’s dial it back if you wish, my DEMOTION….no. Christian self-abnegation is sick. The American people voted to promote and enrich their interests, not to spend the remains of our wealth applying Band-Aids to the great great grandchildren of those-who-once-were-done-wrong.

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Katie's avatar

Please stop the generations-long-gone argument. I am 38. My mother's school wasn't integrated till she was in 4th grade. The Americans held back are living citizens.

My mother-in-law could not try on clothes in department stores due to legal segregation. She grew up in a segregated part of town in an old house. Later it was chosen for demolition to straighten a street shortly after inheriting it with her sisters. She got hardly anything for it because even without eminent domain prices, the neighborhood had never recovered from redlining and other Jim Crow policies. Her mother was smart and driven but her ability to earn good income was limited because safety, opportunity, and education were limited.

My college roommate went to a separate prom from the white kids at her school. At the other end of town was the "private" school with subsidized tuition where Black or Hispanic kids knew not to enroll. She graduated high school in 2005.

Overseeing and providing justice is one of the explicit roles of government listed in the Preamble to the Constitution.

I have little use for cystic fibrosis research or tax credits for historic preservation or Arlington National Cemetery or government insurance paying for Viagra. The government pays for all kinds of services that don't benefit me at all but rather benefit other Americans. But that's the driving reason for government. Pool resources to achieve major goals for the people under it.

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Matthew Wilder's avatar

If you want to spend your brief time on earth conceding what little cultural space you arguably possess to people who literally wish you dead, go for it. But don’t exclaim in shock when others do not.

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Katie's avatar

I didn't realize that you endorse the Great Replacement ideology/conspiracy.

Fortunately, the reason I comment is not for you, but for others to read the back and forth to consider my arguments. I hope they decide to agree with my agreements when comparing them to the alternative ideas professed by a true member of the other side.

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Matthew Wilder's avatar

The left are very funny on the “great” replacement. Every single person says at the same time “That’s an insane racist conspiracy!” AND “Well, that’s your demographic fate, why not just accept it?”

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