Donald Trump and the Abandoning of Logic

I have spent a fair amount of time, in recent months, attempting to understand conservative Trump supporters and how they could possibly be comfortable with what they see happening in government right now. My thought was, "How could they see all of what I see and still come to the conclusion that this is good?" But, I think I've got it. The epiphany actually came to me from watching and interacting with many of my liberal friends. Here is what I have concluded:

Reason can be defined as "the drawing of conclusions or inferences from observations, facts, or assumptions." Most scientists and scholars accept that the most reliable form of reasoning is logic. Logic is the use of certain algorithms (deductive reasoning, inductive reasoning, etc) to come to conclusions. Logic is a scientific system, really. It relies heavily on evidence. Logic is ONE system of reasoning. But, logic is not the ONLY system of reasoning. For whatever reason, logic has long been the commonly accepted best practice for most situations. But, it is not the only way to come to conclusions.

What I have learned is that, in recent years, people have become less and less dependent upon logic. People have begun to abandon logic on favor of emotional reasoning (the basing of opinion solely on one's own feelings rather than evidence). I am not suggesting that emotional reasoning is always wrong. Intuition, gut feelings, and the like are perfectly sound cognitive processes, in certain settings. But, this form of reasoning will fail you in many situations. Sadly, I have noticed that an increasing number of people, intelligent and educated people, have begun to use emotional reasoning in situations that we once would have all agreed were better suited for the use of formal logic.

I say all that to say this. If you are attempting to wrap your mind around why a person thinks the things they think, despite evidence that clearly refutes what they think, keep in mind that your attempt is likely an exercise in futility. Attempting to argue with or even understand a person who is using emotional reasoning, while you yourself are using logic, is an utter waste of time. One cannot use logic to explain emotional reasoning. You are holding your subject to a set of rules that they have not agreed to. This is a lot like playing a game of pick up basketball where one team is playing by NCAA rules and the other is playing by street ball rules. One side has a distinct advantage.

I truly fear what this means for our society. As we stray further and further from intellectual rigor, the Donald Trumps of the world will gain more and more ground. Trust me, my friends, it is not just the conservatives who have abandoned logic in their thinking. Just food for thought.

The Simple and Handy Guide to Whether or Not You are Racist*

The recent political climate has stirred up a great deal of conversation and debate on-line.  Much of that debate has been about what does or does not constitute being racist.  I can’t even count how many times I’ve heard someone say, “Trump isn’t racist, he just…” and then ends the sentence with some obviously racist behavior, idea, or statement.  People have bantered back and forth about whether or not supporting a racist constitutes being a racist.  So, in the interest of clarity, I thought I would create this helpful guide, so that everyone could be clear on whether or not they are, in fact, racist.

There is a lot to digest.  Let’s take this in steps.  First, let’s clear up what is NOT a factor.

Whether or not you identify as racist is not important.  As confusing as this is in modern times, this is not a scenario in which you get to choose how you identify.  Gender identity and racial identity are both constructs where the degree to which you identify with a thing impacts your falling into certain categories.  However, the degree to which you identify as racist is of absolutely no consequence.  While many racist people are proud to be so, many are not.  In fact, many actively deny their racist tendencies.  Because being racist tends to be frowned upon in most circles, many people see racism as not socially acceptable.  Being racist makes you a bad person.  Nobody really ever believes they are a bad person, so even people who ARE racist don’t always claim it.  Still, being racist is a function of your thoughts, speech, and actions.  Not claiming your status as racist doesn’t change much.  In fact, it only causes more confusion for your friends. 

Likewise, realizing that your thoughts, words, and actions are racist is also not required.   Often times, racist people will say or do racist things and then attempt to claim that those things are not racist.  It is often out of sincere lack of insight that these people don’t recognize the racist nature of their behavior.  But, this lack of insight is of little consequence.  In this case, think of it like breaking the law.  Ignorance is not innocence. 

Having Black friends means absolutely nothing.  If I had a nickel for every time someone explained away their racist behavior by inserting the fact that they have a Black friend into the conversation, I could retire to a beach house in Maui.  But, that Black friend of yours can’t erase your racism. In truth, mentioning said friend really only increases the likelihood that your racist behavior will be identified as such.  Those in the know have long recognized your counting of Black friends as racist behavior.  If you can count your Black friends, that doesn’t mean you aren’t racist.  It just means you need more friends. 

Prefacing your words or actions with “I’m not racist, but…” is equally informative but just as irrelevant as your Black friend count. We’ve already covered the fact that one can do racist things while not identifying as racist.  It is also well known that “I’m not racist, but…” is code for “I’m about to say something racist.”  Please do try to remember that the next time you shout out the universal sign for, “Hey everyone, listen to my racist statement.”

Okay, now that we’ve covered what is NOT a factor in determining whether or not you are racist, lets talk about how to determine whether or not you ARE in fact racist.  The following is a very simple guide that you an follow in order to make your determination.

Do you say or do racist stuff?  Do you allow your racist thoughts to influence important decisions? Do you avoid people of color in order to avoid saying or doing racist stuff?  If so, you are racist.  Keep in mind, as we have discussed, you may very well have absolutely no insight about this.  It is best that you do not simply rely on your instincts.  Ask a friend of color that you trust.  If you do not trust any people of color, you are racist.  If you do not have any friends of color, you are probably racist.  If you have friends of color, and they avoid having this conversation with you, you are probably racist.  If you have friends of color, and they say you sometimes do racist stuff even though they know you mean well, believe them.  Try to stop doing the resist stuff.  If, by chance, you have friends of color, and they say you are definitely not racist, consider whether or not you have any power over them.  Are they your subordinates at work?  Are they your son-in-law?  If so, ask someone else.  If after taking all of these steps, you still have reason to believe you are not racist, God bless America! 

Do people of color regularly tell you that the things you say or do are racist?  Keep in mind, whether or not you agree with them doesn’t actually matter in making this decision.  We are going to lean on their expertise.  Just trust them.  If the answer is yes, you are racist.  Period. 

Do white people tell you that you are racist?  If this is the case, sit down and think about your life.  You have crossed a line.  For white people who are not impacted by your racism to take the time to tell you about your racist behavior, it had to have been so bad as to offend even them.  This is serious.  Go see a doctor.  Preferably a psychologist or counselor. (No, I do not want to take your case.  Thanks anyway though.)

Okay, so that’s it!  It’s actually quite simple, once you understand the rules.  Use this guide to avoid arguments and confusion.  Apply these simple rules and know the truth.  Now, it’s important to understand that racism is not terminal.  It is not even permanent.  The cure for racism is actually quite simple.  Stop saying and doing racist stuff.  You can still have racist thoughts.  That is almost impossible to avoid.  But, if you avoid allowing those thoughts to influence your words and actions, you are no longer BEING racist.  That’s the important part. 

I hope this guide is helpful.  Good luck out there.  Despite what our current political climate might imply, being racist isn’t a good thing.  Stay strong. 

*Note:  The word "racist" is used as a placeholder.  It could easily be replaced with sexist, homophobic, xenophobic, stupid, or various other problematic constructs.  Please read accordingly.  

It Takes A Village

There's an African proverb that says it takes a village to raise a child.   It refers to the idea that it takes more than a set of parents to raise a person properly.  As I look back on my childhood, I can certainly say that this was true for me.  Thirty years ago, when I was growing up, your neighborhood was your village.  The adults around you played an integral role in your daily life.  I remember, vividly, spending time with the adults that lived around me.  It seems so strange to think about, now.  It wasn’t odd at all for me to get up, leave my house, and go play on Mr. Reese’s porch.  We would take walks and talk together.  A kid would never do that today. An adult would never do that today! The world has changed so much.  But, thirty years ago, we really did get a village. 

I remember learning to speak to elders, because I would always cut through Mrs. Monsour’s yard to go to the grocery store.  When strangers to the neighborhood would want to cut through her yard, she would just let the dog scare them off, and they would have to walk between the houses.  But, for me, she would call the dog onto the porch so I could walk though.  I would just have to say hello when she came to the door.  Seemed fair to me. 

I learned about values from Mr. Defillipo.  I used to sit and watch him shine his Stingray Corvette in his garage.  That car was beautiful.  Then one day, maybe when one of his daughters was born, he got rid of the Corvette and they got a more family oriented car.  I remember thinking he must really love his kids, because I’d have kept the car.  It seemed foolish at the time, but I get it now. 

And the Davises.  I’m pretty sure I walked in and out of the Davis house almost as freely as I did my own.  When I was young, Dave Davis was my best friend in the world.  We played basketball together.  We rode bikes together.  We climbed trees together.  We spent so much time in Mr. Reese’s tree that he cut it down just to keep us out.  The Davises used to drive me to basketball practice just as often as my own mother.  They were like an extended family to me.

This was my village.  I don’t think kids today have a village.  Not like we used to.  They have play dates and cell phones.  You don’t just go outside and play anymore.  And, as a result, kids probably don’t know their neighbors quite like we did thirty years ago.  Back then, your neighbors were allowed to scold you.  They were allowed to feed you.  They were expected to let you into their homes if you needed something.  They were expected to look out for you.  We didn’t just live beside each other.  We lived among one another. 

I’ve been reminiscing about my village, because one member of my village just passed a few days ago.   Mr. Canan.  I liked Mr. Canan a lot.  He lived behind me, and he was always nice to me.  His daughter was my teacher in first grade, and I loved her dearly.  The first time I saw her in my neighborhood, visiting her dad, it made me like Mr. Canan even more.  It was like my worlds were connected. 

One of my most vivid childhood memories is about Mr. Canan.  I was in my back yard playing with my BB gun.  Of course, I wasn’t supposed to be playing with a BB gun.  I’m not even sure I was allowed to have that BB gun.  But I was shooting it anyway.  I was shooting at birds.  I let off a shot, and I could hear that it hit a house.  It didn’t seem like anyone was around, so I thought I was okay, until Mr. Canan came strolling up to my yard.  He had a stern look on his face, but he was kind, as usual.  The conversation went something like this.

Mr. Canan:  Did you hear something?
Me:  No.

Mr. Canan:  Sounded like a BB gun or something.

Me: No.  I didn’t hear it.

Mr. Canan:  You’re not playing with a BB gun, are you?

Me: No. 

Mr. Canan:  Okay, because if you are, that would be dangerous.  You could hit someone. You could break a window.  That wouldn’t be good.

I could see that he was angry, but I could also see that he didn’t want to be mean to me.  He knew I was lying.  I knew he knew I was lying.  I also knew that he could just tell my mother, if he wanted to.  That would have gone badly for me.  But he didn’t.  He just walked back down to his house and acted like it never happened.  I was so scared.  I never played with a BB gun in the yard again.  And I respected Mr. Canan for not getting me in trouble.  He taught me to pay attention and be careful, but he did it without yelling at me or telling on me.   When I think of Mr. Canan, I always think of that story. 

I miss my village sometimes.  I miss the idea of the village.  I wish my kids had that same type of village.  I don’t know if the world is set up that way anymore, but I wish it were.  The village gives you character.  It gives you a sense of community.  It gives you the ability to care about others, and it shows you that there are people who care about you.  I’m sure there are other ways to get those things, but I have to believe that the village was somehow important.  

Like Mr. Canan, many of the people in my village are gone now, but they are certainly not forgotten.   At any rate, this one goes out to my village.  To the Davis, the Reeses, the Hannahs, the Defillipos, the Monsours, the Danczyks, the Musolinos, and the rest of my village,  I sure do appreciate you. 

Donald Trump and the Black Community

"Show me in the white community where a comedian is a white leader. Show me in the white community where a singer is a white leader, or a dancer or a trumpet player is a white leader. These aren't leaders. These are puppets and clowns that have been set up over the black community by the white community and have been made celebrities and usually say exactly what they know the white man wants to hear."

-Malcolm X

In recent weeks, President-Elect Donald Trump has been meeting with Black celebrities, ranging from Kanye West to Jim Brown, proclaiming that his intention is to affect positive change in the Black community.  Subsequently, there has been some degree of debate, in the Black community, about whether or not prominent members of the Black community should give Donald Trump their ear, or lend him their voice and/or face during this transition.  The debate centers around whether or not we can believe that Donald Trump is, to quote Steve Harvey, “sincere,” in his desire to improve Black life in America.  Some would argue that Trump has no credibility with us, and meeting with him increases his credibility without requiring that he earn that credibility.  Others argue that passing up the chance to meet with the next president of the United States amounts to forfeiting the opportunity to push our agenda.  Assuming he is "using" these Black celebrities, savvy celebrities might have the opportunity to affect change in their communities in a sort of "quid pro quo" scenario. For a moment, let me suspend any discussion of whether or not Black celebrities should be meeting with Donald Trump.  As I am not likely to be on his list of notables to reach out to, I doubt I will be faced with such a conundrum.  However, it might be worth some exploration to discuss the other point.  Is Donald Trump Sincere in his desire to help Black America?

To put it bluntly, I don’t buy it.  I present as evidence only one fact: Trump has been meeting with Black entertainers rather than Black leaders. He criticized John Lewis, but he met with Steve Harvey.  If he wants to meet with the folks who have answers to the questions plaguing the Black community, why not meet with the Black elected officials (mayors, representatives, city council members) in these communities? Why not meet with Black scholars? Trump is meeting with people who increase his profile in the Black community.   He is not meeting with people who could offer insight about policies in these communities.  He is not meeting with people who would actually critique him on the things he said in the past or during his campaign. Meet with Cornel West. Meet with Minster Farrakhan. Meet with President Obama, who is arguably the most influential Black person in America right now. Discuss a way for the outgoing president to be an integral part of the change in the Black community moving forward. Do those things, and then I'll believe that he isn't doing exactly what Malcolm X was talking about. Face time with celebrities does not indicate intent toward action or change. Trump is putting on a show.

Now, a wise man once told me that the only difference between a genius and a fool is time. In time, we will all see if Trump means to do good works in the Black community. If he suddenly starts committing federal resources and presidential influence to improving Black life, I'll be the first to admit that I was the fool. Until then, I know better than to believe it.