Thread by @l78lancer

For my fellow brethren and sisters:

This has happened a few times, so I need to address it.

This the most important election of or lifetimes. Black people in general know that, especially black women. But, black men know it, too.

It is a fact that we - black people - have been the single most loyal, reliable, and steady coalition of the democratic party bar none, and we have been for decades. I and we KNOW what it means to focus as individuals and as a group when it comes to political action.

I know of what I speak. Our very survival as black people has depended on it, and still does.

So it's especially offensive - and I don't appreciate, when someone condescendingly and patronizingly tells me to "focus" on the election at hand and what's "important, as if I don't know what's going on, or that their value or importance for the election somehow supersedes mine.

The fact is WE wouldn't be in the situation we're in if millions of people who have historically taken their suffrage for granted and casted protest votes for Jill Stein or stayed home because they were pissed because Bernie lost in 2016.

Those were predominantly not black people, and it certainly wasn't me.

And while we seem to be largely past that 2016 disaster, we're still not out of the woods yet. The fact that you can now presume to impose your self-importance into my reality is disrespectful, and indicative of your misplaced white privilege.

You don't know me. So, STEP THE FVCK OFF. I'm not having it.

Most of you have interacted with me enough to know that I do may best (although admittedly not always successfully) to be fair, reasonable, level headed, openminded, and gracious.

I am willing to have almost any discussion, explore almost all matters deeply and sincerely, learn new things, be receptive to new information, and to disagree and debate respectfully when we do have differences.

I am grateful for our conversations, all of the laughs and learning I've experienced. And I do hope I've shared a few things of value with you, too. After all, for as serious at things are, I still try to find humor wherever I can, and it's all about continuous growth.

We must all pull together, coordinate and have a commonality of purpose to save democracy. But you will not school me, chastise me, or subordinate me in the process.

I do not speak for all black people, but be sure to hear and understand what this one is saying. So for those who may not know me, let me be clear. Don't ever come at me and tell me to "focus" as if you need to tell me how to look out for my own best interest.

None of us are children, and no one else has walked a mile in my shoes of experience. So, remember that. If you come at me, come correct, or don't come at all.

This does not apply to the vast majority of individuals with whom I have conversed, and have developed a kind of kinship. But for ones to whom it does apply, you know exactly who the hell you are.

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...of [our] lifetimes...