The actions in DC this week may have been triggered by the actions of Donald Trump, but even he is just a symptom of a larger disease that is part of the legacy of the United States.
The US has always suffered from a white nationalist problem, born out of a sick need for plantation owners to placate the poor southern whites, a narrative of superiority was fed to the poor southern farmers that, in many cases, lived in poverty as dire as could be found anywhere. Yet, they were fed a sense of superiority over the slaves that fueled the Southern economy.
The wealthy plantation owners fed poor whites a dream, work hard and you too can eventually own slaves. Over the course of generations, this toxic rhetoric was used to keep the poor whites in check, while plantation owners enjoyed the fruits brought forth by the bondage of others. Is the bondage of others not terrorism?
During the Civil War, wealthy plantation owners, and their sons, avoided front line duty, sending poor white farmers to fight for them instead. Again the narrative, “you are fighting for your heritage” was simply a dog whistle for the defense of slavery, and empty promises. Is insurrection in defense of slavery not terrorism?
After the fall of the civil war, and the onset of disillusionment of the frontline confederate soldiers began to wear off, the “Lost Cause” narrative was pushed to keep the poor whites in check, while the wealthy worked to build the systems of government into something that would lead to Jim Crow and a racially biased criminal justice system. Is the lynching and oppression of others not terrorism?
Wealth and power were concentrated among the corporate elite. Railroads were built at the expense of Irish, Chinese, and other immigrants, many of whom were turned against each other in order to keep them compliant to those in power.
When, despite Jim Crow and a system setup to make them fail, Blacks were able to build their own power structures in Tulsa, white rage was used to fuel anti-black sentiment. The Tulsa Race Massacre led to the destruction of black owned businesses, ensuring Blacks would be set back even further in society. Was this massacre not terrorism?
Attempts to eventually desegregate led to further weaponization of white rage. Poor whites were compelled to push back against desegregation, with false narratives of “the spread of communism” and threats against their racial “purity”. Meanwhile those in power sat back, immune from any such concerns. Was this not Terrorism?
The problem with the toxic white nationalism that is the legacy of our nation, is that it cannot be contained. Anger, rage, and fanaticism spread like a cancer throughout society. As society grew, and equity began, racism didn’t go away, it simply hid. White rage was redirected in other way, all while the undercurrents of bigotry remained to fuel it. Distrust in the government led to violence such as the Oklahoma City Bombing. Fanaticism led to tragedies such as the standoff in Waco. This was absolutely terrorism.
Poor whites remain poor. Those in power began further consolidation of wealth, all while distracting and feeding a narrative of fear. Beware of the immigrants, beware liberal policies coming for your “guns”. Meanwhile the rage and toxicity stated to consume schools, churches, and any public place that served as a venue for toxicity to explode.
Enter Donald Trump, a populist, yet mediocre, tyrant. He excels at one thing, feeding off the ignorance and rage of a poor white population that feels threatened at the very concept that they are not superior at all. Equity is heresy to a society that has spent the last 200 years benefiting over factual inequity and perceived superiority.
This is American’s legacy. It doesn’t have to be. Despite the best attempts of the few who benefit, America has steadily progressed towards a more just and inclusive society. We are far from it, but not so far as when this journey began. It is possible to keep pushing to a society where “All men are created equal” is not just a dream, but a fact. That cannot, and will not happen if we hope for the status quo.
We must hold EVERYONE accountable that enabled the toxicity of this week to blossom into all out insurrection and terrorism . We must not forget the lessons of the past, and we must not allow false narratives to take root any further.
