But Not to Him

I read that Trump has decided to hold what he might imagine is his first pandemic rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on June 19, 2020. Juneteenth celebrates the day in 1865 that slaves (who had actually been freed in 1863 by Lincoln’s Proclamation though Texas slaves were not so informed) heard that they were now liberated.  Juneteenth is the oldest national holiday celebrating the end of slavery in the United States.
     I think Trump’s usurpation of this holiday for his own venal political purposes is the ultimate appropriation of African American history and culture by a white person that I can imagine in the United States. He has chosen this day to start (or continue!) his reelection campaign where he will boast of his many accomplishments for the Black community without once addressing the horrific incidences of police violence against African Americans; without having once in the past several weeks since his murder talked about George Floyd; without once condemning the structural racism that maintains white privilege which he will then celebrate with his Tulsa Rally. On the anniversary of the end of slavery, when he might have spoken of the challenges of eliminating racism, of the tragic and dangerous legacy of slavery in the United States; when he might have devoted time to offering sympathy and support to the African-American community, Trump will celebrate himself and continue to tell lies to his supporters.
     And he has chosen to begin his ugly campaign in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where in 1921 white rioters attacked  homes and business of the African American community. The riot has been called one of the worst incidents of racial violence in American history. Hundreds of people were killed and thousands injured. News of the riot was suppressed by white authorities. And this is where Trump has chosen to advertise himself. In the 99^th anniversary of the riots Trump will assert the privilege of whiteness, will condescend to mention African Americans for his own political gain, will applaud his accomplishments (which are mostly appalling), and exploit the tragic history of the Tulsa Riots. I remember Reagan at Bitberg. They are all so ethically barren. So insensitively cruel. So ultimately dangerous.
     It all makes me ill.