When Barack Obama ran for president of the United States, I was dedicated to his success and I’ve been a supporter throughout his presidency as well. I don’t agree with everything he does, but I think he is an excellent leader and the way he carries himself is a model for everyone.
{mosads}Although I majored in political science as an undergraduate college student, regularly voted and paid some attention to politics, Obama was the first presidential candidate for whom I volunteered and gave financially. My story is similar to many of my peers: candidate Obama spoke to us. He represented a fresh perspective, he cared about many of the same issues that we did, he emphasized the collective over the individual, and he had a sense of integrity and intellect that we had not seen in years. Candidate Obama carried a message of hope and brotherly love and it was wrapped up in a package that seemed to charm and entice the nation and even the world. He attracted huge crowds, sometimes 50,000 to 100,000 people, even drawing crowds in Europe when he visited. He seemed to give the world a sense of optimism; he seemed to reflect our future rather than our past. Although his presidency has had its wins and losses, he had accomplished many of his goals and revived our economy after it took a hit under President George W. Bush.
Despite many supporters, President Obama also attracted critics based on what he represented — a changing nation in terms of leadership, demographics and social issues. Although few of his detractors would admit it, much of the hatred toward Obama stems from his being a black man. Watching a black man lead our country infuriated the outwardly and closeted racists, with Obama receiving more death threats than any other modern president to date.
Just as candidate Obama peddled his message of hope, we are now witnessing candidate Donald Trump peddling his message of hate. Although Trump knows little about domestic or foreign policy, he is not stupid. He is smart enough to understand that the deep hatred brewing in the United States can be captured, nurtured and stoked. Trump is a master at using hate to his advantage; getting others to do his dirty work and then lying about his involvement in hate mongering. Trump, like Obama in 2008, is attracting large crowds — although nowhere near the size of Obama’s. These crowds are filled with angry people who have been taught for decades that “others” are responsible for their lack of opportunity. The “others” in the minds of Trump supporters are people of color, religious minorities, the LGBT community, immigrants and anyone else who does not fit the mold of the white, Christian and heterosexual.
Both candidate Obama and candidate Trump knew that parts of the nation longed to be heard. Candidate Obama’s listeners longed for policies and programs that reflected the changing world (they got many of these policies and programs). Trump’s listeners long to “take their country back” from the growing diversity of people. They believe these individuals have taken their jobs, opportunities and comforts. Rather than considering the collective good, Trump supporters are focused on their individual gains. What they don’t realize is that it is really Trump who has moved jobs out of the United States and has employed labor from outside the country to keep costs down. If Trump were to tell the truth to his audiences, he would have to explain that those responsible for their lack of opportunities are he and his wealthy friends who exploit the poor and middle class.
I grew up poor in the midst of people who regularly blamed others for their lack of opportunity and who simultaneously admired the wealth (and seemingly hard work) of the rich. As my neighbors were regularly oppressed, they failed to consider the role of the wealthy and found the easy scapegoat: those they didn’t understand and those who were different from them.
I deeply recognize how hate manifests and grows. This election brings to the fore a choice for all of us. Do we want to peddle hatred or hope? Which message do we want to send to our children? Which message do we want to send to the world? A vote for Donald Trump is a vote for hate. I choose hope. Do you?
Gasman is professor of higher education at the University of Pennsylvania and director of the Penn Center for Minority Serving Institutions.