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By Rickey Hampton, Editor and Founder of The African-American Athlete
See the man in the picture above? He is what a white racist looks like. He is the man who capped a day of violence Saturday in Charlottesville, Va. by white nationalists when he ran over 32-year-old Heather Hyer, a white woman who was there to protest against their hate.
It is important to show you his face, because the guy who resides (at least temporarily) at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. isn’t going to tell you that. Why? Because the guy in the picture is the wrong color.
Had the guy in the picture been black, we would be hearing about his religious affiliation (is he a Muslim?), and looking at what country he comes from, in order to add that nation to the travel ban. Had the guy in the picture been hispanic, the guy who lives at 1600 would be railing. He would be talking about why we need to get them all out of the country, and build the wall another 10-feet higher.
But the guy was not black. He was not hispanic. He was a white. A white boy, only 20 years-old. He is a white nationalist.
And something in his obviously warped mind made him think this country was actually working against him, and other whites. It is amazing a person from arguably the most privilege race to ever walk the face of the earth would think that way, but for some utterly asinine reason, that 20-year-old white boy, and his cohorts think that way.
He is a part of the white populists who feel they should be given things by the United States. That industries should financially disadvantage themselves to make sure they have good paying jobs. He believes the entire government should exist to create laws that make up for his short comings as a man, and as a human being.
However, when white radical nationalist terrorists who follow a creed of destruction of our nations values commit acts of violence, the man at 1600 is silent. He said nothing condemning the bombing of a Muslim Mosque a few weeks ago, and nothing about the growing acts of violence from white supremacist groups since coming into office.
The guy from 1600 Pennsylvania refused to condemn the white racists in Charlottesville who perpetrated the violence , and tried to sneak by and only say that violence was uncalled for, as though the violence created itself.
Of course, this racist white boy joins a growing number of whites who advocate, and perpetuate violence. They have been emboldened by the man at 1600 Pennsylvania. The Neo-Nazi’s and white supremacists feel so confident in Trump they commented: ”Trump comments were good. He didn’t attack us. He just said the nation should come together. Nothing specific against us. He said that we need to study why people are so angry, and implied that there was hate… on both sides! So he implied the Antifa are haters.”
And, why not? Trump rode hate, racism, neo-nazism, and packs of lies to the White House. As a candidate he talked about beating up protesters, bragged about sexually assaulting women, retweeted racists ‘Tweets’, attacking Muslims and immigrants.
He started his political career with a lie, claiming President Obama wasn’t born in America, and that he was a Muslim, as if it was something actually sinister about being a Muslim.
You can bet some of the same people spewing their hatred in Charlottesville, are people who bought into Trump’s rhetoric. Incredulously, these people probably consider themselves patriots, and someone like Colin Kaepernick a communist thug.
Without a doubt, racists like that 20-year-old boy in the picture have picked up on this. They have been signaled by the occupant of the White House.
One other thing to note about Charlottesville. Did you notice that dozens and dozens of white people who were totally against the white supremacist? Their convictions are admirable, and should not be overlooked, especially since Heyer has now given her life in opposition to the hatred and violence of the Alt-Right.
I can only hope members of the white community will forge ahead with their convictions. All of those white supremacist belong to families, churches, schools and communities, that generally frown on their beliefs. Those in the white community who know that Neo-nazi’s and White Nationalist hold views contrary to those that make this nation great, must be willing speak out against them.
We as a country must continue to challenge their hatred. We have to do it, because we know the man that lives at 1600 Pennsylvania won’t.
