Spring 2020 Part 2

Hair (Components)

This work will deal with Part 2 of the Hair series. Hair is all around us. It is found in our culture, in our history, and in our civilizations. That is easy to witness when we wash our hair or when we cut our hair to look our best for a special occasion like a wedding or a specific celebration. Also, there are those who are bald. Those, who are bald and with thinning hair, are entitled with the same dignity and respect as those will a large amount of hair. Ayanna Pressley has shown her hair bald in a courageous sense to outline the truth that women with bald heads are beautiful just like a woman will full amount of hair. Hair’s dynamics are amazing, and we should investigate many facets of hair in order to get a greater appreciation of human diversity. Diversity is good, especially when it is applied to build up the world’s societal institutions positively. When you see people of diverse personalities, sexes, and backgrounds, they represent the greatness of the human race. Fashion shows, barber shops, and hair salons always lead us to see how hair culture has great importance in our daily lives. We certainly honor the sacrifice and the intelligence that barbers plus salon expert do on a daily basis to make the best hair fashion for children, men, and women. Also, we have a very long way to go. You have evil people trying to cut the dreadlocks of kids in order to graduate high school or to be educated in schools. That is disgraceful as a person’s hair should be expressed in many ways. People with dreadlocks should be respected as equal human beings regardless of a person’s color or race.

We witness wars, malice, hatreds, poverty, racism, sexism, and neo-colonialism. These evils are wrong, and they ought to be condemned 100 percent. Yet, we will carry onward with the work in making sure that the dream lives on. There are differences in the lengths of hair, in hair texture, and in other components of human hair. There are many black owned hair companies that are doing their best to provide to the people the best products available to human begins. `The Mielle Organics, Alikay Naturals, The Mane Choice, Shea Moisture, and NaturAll Club are some of the many companies promoting hair related items. People know about how Shea Moisture's products don't use petroleum, formaldehyde, mineral oil, phthalates, sulfates, or parabens. Shea Moisture used organic, fair trade ingredients for more than 100 years. There are so many hair experts and stylists today that it is certainly a testament to the value of hair care. Many of these experts are: Ursula Stephen, Tymothe Wallace, Andre Walker, Oscar James, Shani Crowe, Kendall Dorsey, Felicia Leatherwood, Derek Jae, Lacy Redway, Kim Kimble, Vernon François, Kiyah Wright, Takisha Sturdivant-Drew, Yusef Williams, Stasha Harris, and other legends. These legends have worked with many famous people's hair like: Serena Williams, Jourdan Dunn, Zendaya, Taraji P. Henson, Yara Shahidi, Kelly Rowland, Oprah, Iman, Jennifer Hudson, Nicki Minaj, Tiffany Hadish, Regina Hall,  Solange, Teyana Taylor, Naomi Campbell, Tracee Ellis Ross, Kerry Washington, Usher, etc.

Also, these experts aren't just famous people that we know internationally. They include average, ordinary men and women who make their duty to help human beings express their hair in the best possible way possible. We also salute the doctors in hair care too.

Learning about hair is also learning about hair curl patterns. Hair experts have known about this for thousands of years. One woman, who has a northern accent, told me much information about the diversity of hair types. The shape of the follicle that your hair grows from your scalp determines the curl type. They can be 1s, 2s, 3s, and 4s. The sub classifications of A to C are based on the width of diameter of your wave. We live in the 2020s now. It is very important to not know about the complexities of hair. People’s views on different forms of hair differ on social position, ethnicity, sex, religion, age, and culture. It is also vital to allow folks to realize that someone with hair and someone without have the same human value (and we will show compassion to all people who reside in the Universe).

The Parts of Human Hair

There are many parts of the human hair that people should comprehend. To know hair is to know that hair is a protein filament that grows from the follicles of the dermis. Hair is found on all mammals. All of the human body, apart from areas of glabrous skin is covered in follicles. These follicles produce thick terminal and fine vellus hair. There has been research increased over the years on hair growth, hair types, and hair care. Hair is a vital biomaterial. It’s an entity made up of mostly alpha-keratin and protein. Hair is part of the integumentary system. Each strand of hair is made up of the medulla, cortex, and cuticle. The medulla is the innermost region of the hair. It is not always present and is an open, unstructured region. The highly structural and organized cortex or the second of the three layers of the hair is the primary source of mechanical strength plus water uptake. The cortex has the melanin, which colors the fibers based on the number, distribution, and types of melanin granules. The shape of the follicle determines the shape of the cortex and the shape of the fiber is related to how straight or curly the hair is. People with straight hair have round hair fibers. Oval and other shaped fibers are generally more wavy or curly. The cuticle is the outer covering. Their complexes structures slides as the hair cells and is covered with a single molecular layer of lipid that makes the hair repel water. The diameter of human hair varies from 0.017 to 0.18 millimeters (0.00067 to 0.00709 in.). There are two million small, tubular glands and sweat glands that produce watery fluids that cool the body by evaporation. The glands at the opening of the hair produce a fatty secretion that lubricates the hair. Hair growth starts inside the hair follicle. In the follicle is found the living part of the hair. The hair that is visible is the hair shaft, which exhibits no biochemical activity and is considered “dead.” The base of a hair’s root or the bulb has the cells that produce the hair shaft. Other structures of the hair follicle include the oil producing sebaceous gland which lubricates the hair and the arrector pili muscles, which are responsible for causing hairs to stand up. In humans with little body hair, the effect results in goose bumps.

The root of the hair is the hair bulb. It is whiter in color and softer in texture than the shaft. It is found in a follicular involution of the epidermis called the hair follicle. The bulb of hair consists of fibrous connective tissue, glassy membrane, external root sheath, internal root sheath composed of epithelium stratum (Henle's layer) and granular stratum (Huxley's layer), cuticle, cortex and medulla. All natural hair colors are the result of two types of hair pigments. Both of these pigments are melanin types, produced inside the hair follicle and packed into granules found in the fibers. Eumelanin is the dominant pigment in brown hair and black hair, while pheomelanin is dominant in red hair. Blond hair is the result of having little pigmentation in the hair strand. Gray hair occurs when melanin production decreases or stops, while poliosis is hair (and often the skin to which the hair is attached), typically in spots, that never possessed melanin at all in the first place, or ceased for natural genetic reasons, generally, in the first years of life. Hair grows everywhere on the external body except for mucus membranes and glabrous skin, such as that found on the palms of the hands, soles of the feet, and lips.  Hair follows a specific growth cycle with three distinct and concurrent phases: anagen, catagen, and telogen phases; all three occur simultaneously - while one strand of hair may be in the anagen phase, another may be in the telogen phase. Each has specific characteristics that determine the length of the hair.

The body has different types of hair, including vellus hair and androgenic hair, each with its own type of cellular construction. The different construction gives the hair unique characteristics, serving specific purposes, mainly, warmth and protection. Hair promotes thermal regulation among human beings. The eyebrows help protect the eyes from dirt, sweat, and rain.

The Biology of Hair

The biology is hair is very diverse and interesting. Hair can transmit sensory information. It acts as a barrier to foreign particles. Hair can renew itself too. When a fetus exists, all of its hair follicles are formed by week 22. About one million follicles are on the head, and 100,000 are on the scalp. As people get older, the density of hair follicles declines. The hair follicle is found below the skin and the hair shaft is the hair that we see. The hair follicle is the part of the hair that lives. It has cells and connective tissue. The base of the hair follicle has the papilla with tiny blood vessels called capillaries. These cells nourish the cells. The germinal matrix of the follicle produces new hairs. The bulb surrounds the papilla and germinal matrix. It’s fed by capillaries. The bulb has many stem cells that divide every 23 to 72 hours. It can deal with hormones that affect hair growth and structures during puberty and other stages of human life. The sebaceous gland produces sebum or oil that acts as the human natural conditioner. Sebum is high during puberty that increases acne. It declines with age causing the human skin to be dry. The hair shaft is the part of the hair that we see, and it’s dead. It has keratin or protein. It has the innermost layer, the middle layer, and the outermost layer. Hair grows about 6 inches per year. Stage 1 of hair growth is the anagen phase, the stage 2 is the catagen phrase (or in transition), and stage 3 is the telogen phrase of resting phrase. Hair shape is different among people too. Some people have curly hair, straight, thick, shiny, or other types of hair. The curl of the hair is determined by its cross sectional shape. Straight hair has a mostly circular circumference. Curly or kinky hair is flat. The more circular the hair shaft, the straighter the hair. The flatter the shaft, the curlier the hair is. Color, texture, and thickness of hair can change over time involving human aging.

"What keeps me going is watching women emerge into confidence about their hair."

-Felicia Leatherwood

Hair classifications (4c, etc.)

Hair classification is known by many people. Other people never heard of these things a day in their lives. The curl type of human beings is very fascinating to know. Hairstylist Andrew Walker created this system, and it has been changed to include curly haired people. This system is not perfect, but it shows the diversity of how our hair is shown. Curl type is known by the shape of the follicle that comes out from anyone’s scalp. The curl pattern is known about how the hair kink, curve, or wind around into spirals. 1s are straight, 2s are wavy, 3s are curly, and 4s are coily. There are sub divisions of A to C, which is determined by width or diameter of the wave, curl, or coil pattern. As have a wider pattern size, Bs have medium, and Cs is the smallest of the threes. 2As is easy to straighten. 2Bs are flatter at the crown with defined S-shaped waves starting from the midlength. 2Cs waves are thick, coarse, and can frizz. 3As are shiny and have loose curls. 3Bs have coarse, springy ringlets with the circumference from many types. It can be densely packed together. Type 4 hair is common among African Americans and people of black African descent. It is kinky hair and it can be soft and fine. Small curls of zig zags from the scalp are common. 4As have dense springy, A-patterned coils. 4Bs are strands that are densely packed and bend into sharp angles. Issa Rae has 4B hair. 4Cs have tightly coiled strands. They have zig zag pattern. Lupita Nyong’o has a 4C type of hair. Shea Moisture Red Palm Oil and Cocoa Butter Curl Stretch Pudding help those with 4C type of hair.

The Diversity of Hair


As human beings, we appreciate the diversity of hair. We love our hair, and we love bald people too. It is clear to mention that there is no such thing as "good hair." Hair is hair. As a black person born in America, people who look like me have dealt with hair for decades, centuries, and thousands of years. I have shown short hair, long hair, beards, clean shaven, mustaches, and other various hairstyles. It is also important to recognize the diverse textures and hairstyles of black women. Black women have always been an anchor in the black community, and it is no secret that bigots hate black expression of hair. You can look at the stories of black women fighting to wear long hair in the military or black students being forced to cut their dreadlocks or not graduate. Of course, these actions of restricting the freedom of expression among black people are deplorable, but we still have to fight for the dignity of black people in 2020. The Perception Institute's 2017 hair study said that a majority of people regardless of race and sex have some bias toward women of color based upon hair. That's said, but true. Women like Lupita Nyong'o and Solange Knowles have fought to rock their texture in order to shift many people's attitudes about hair. There are many hairstyles that women and girls wear all of the time. Many women and girls have ponytails, scrunchies, barrettes, various curl patterns, pigtales, bald, cornrows, dreads, box braids, weaves, whigs, the updo. Men and boys have worn their hair in fades, long hair, bald, clean shaven, whigs, boxes, jerry curls, dreadlocks, cornrows, and many other styles. Some men and women have worn hair in a similar fashion as well. Hairstyles, historically, have differed based on nationality, sex, culture, religion, and age. For example, the Toposa women of South Sudan have small pigtalls. In Hindu culture and the Wayana people of the Guiana highlands, young people shaved their hair to denote coming of age. Many African Americans wear our hair in many complex patterns of box braids, cornrows, shaved parts of the hair, and other designs with various patterns.

*The hair of black people have a long history stretching thousands of years. Hair from African American people have a history of innovation. Back in 1444, Europeans saw West Africans with locks, plaits, and twists. There is nothing new under the sun. Many of the hairstyles that we see today have been shown by black people spanning millennia. As we know, when African people were kidnapped and brought to the Americas, Asia, etc., many of the cultures of African people were eliminated. This was done under the vicious programming of dehumanization, exploitation, and racism. Olaudah Equiano shown his hair greatly in his time as an abolitionist. African Americans, who were slaves, didn't have herbal treatments or elaborate combs. So, many slaves used bacon grease, butter, and kerosene to act as conditioners and cleaners. Racist slave owners intentionally divided slaves based on skin complexion, age, and sex in order to promote the evil of colorism. After the Civil War, bad, racist stereotypes about beauty and hair persisted. Many people wanted their hair to look a certain way to enter certain schools, churches, social groups, and business networks. The evil paper bag test was very real back in the day. Yet, tons of black people then and now love their kinky hair. By the early 20th century, Madam C. J. Walker created a large amount of hair care products for black hair. Marcus Garvey was overt in telling his followers to embrace their natural hair and promote African identity. In 1954, George E. Johnson promoted his Johnson Products Company with Ultra Wave Hair Culture. He wanted to straightened hair for men. I of course don't want my hair straightened.

In 1963, Cicely Tyson made history. She worn cornrows on the show EastSide/West Side. This was rare, but she was courageous to do this. Garrett A. Morgan made chemical relaxers. The 1960's Motown culture had the Sunday best style of fashion, women with wigs plus relaxers, and men wearing more conservative hairstyles. By the late 1960's, changes came about. The Model Pat Evans shaved her head in a photo in 1966. Back in the day, it was taboo for a woman to shave her head. Today, it is more acceptable and common to witness this reality. Diahann Carroll worn a strengthened curled hair on the show Julia back in 1968. By the late 1960's and 1970's, Afros were commonly shown by people like Angela Davis, Jesse Jackson, Don Cornelius, Melba Tolliver, and so many other Brothers and Sisters. In 1971, Melba Tolliver was unjust fired form ABC after wearing an Afro after covering Tracia Nixon's wedding. Since 1977 and to the 1980's, the jheri curl was popular. By 1974, Beverly Johnson on was the first black woman to appear on the cover of Vogue having long, smoother textured hair. Pam Grier rocked her Afro too. Donna Summer shown her curls by the year of 1977. Black women have worn braids for a long time, and in 1979, Bo Derek (who is a white woman) worn braids.

In 1980, Grace Jones worn the flattop fade. Spike Lee did a great job in exposing colorism and refuting "the good hair/bad hair" nonsense in his 1988 movie School Daze. By the 1990's, black Americans have shown diversity from natural hair, weaves, and locks. By 1997, Erykah Badu won the head wrap in her debut album Baduizm which saw the resurrection of neo-soul music taking over the world. Halle Berry in 1992's Boomerang movie shown a short, smooth hairstyle. Shows like a Different World and Living Single have shown black people of diverse skin tones, hairstyles, and textures being represented on TV (as the 1990's was a Golden Age of African American television). By 1997, Lisa Price created Carol's Daughter. This is a hair care line from her Brooklyn apartment that wanted to help black people and their hair.  She promoted natural, untampered textures that set the stage for the growth of the natural hair movement. Aaliyah have shown long hair. We saw new companies rise like Dark and Lovely including Nia Long plus Mary J. Blige showing their iconic hair styles. Many Brothers worn dreads, fades, waves, Afros, etc. Lauryn Hill by 1999 in People Magazine was called one of its 50 Beautiful People with her locs. By the 2000's, diversity continued in hair like Lil Kim's blond weave to Macy Gray's Afro. Destiny's Child during the early 2000's displayed varying lengths, textures, and styles. Tracee Ellis Ross have curls and she was an actress on UPN's Girlfriends form 2000 top 2008. She is Diana Ross' daughter. Viola Davis and other people in the 2010's have shown natural hair as the natural hair movement reached into new heights of popularity by the 2010's. From pixie hairstyles to total locs, we have the right to express our hair as we see fit. That's real talk. Black Hair Care is an industry worth billions of dollars.

Conclusion

Hair is more than just protein growing out of our heads. Hair is a cultural, social, and diverse form of human expression. How we want us to see ourselves is determined in part by how we wear our hair. We have shown our hair in a myriad of forms from long hair to being bald. Again, I appreciate Ayanna Pressley's courage in showing the total truth that women can be bald, beautiful, and determine to make a progressive difference in our society. For thousands of years, human beings have worn hair, sculptured images of it, promoted fashion in dealing with it, and present it among numerous settings. Salons and barbershops are well known locations where people show their camaraderie, talk about issues, and enjoy their time while their hair being worked on.


From graduations, parties, weddings, and other occasions, our hair has always been majestic.  Hair cutting is a business. So, hair cuts or salon work varies from location to location. Some hair care can very inexpensive costing $10 or it can cost above $25. As a black person, it is a well known fact that black people have exhibited some of the most creative displays of hair patterns in human world history. From braids to cornrows, the essence of hair is it shines with its diversity, strength, and cultural impacts. These impacts have so richly enriched the inhabitants of the globe. Wearing our hair as we wish is or business and our human right too. From Pam Grier's Afro to the cornrows of Jeanette Jenkins, our hair is our vehicle for our extension of our beings.

2020 Presidential Election Updates

We live in very interesting, exciting times. The 2020 Presidential election, in my view, is the most important election of my lifetime. The paradox is that the Democratic race in 2020 started with candidates representing the most diverse field among one of the two major parties in American history. Although, Kamala Harris, Julian Castro, Corey Booker, and other candidates left the race because of financial issues. This upcoming election is a referendum on what we Americans desire for our future. At the end of the day, this is for our descendants' future. Donald Trump is obvious on what he is. Trump has obstructed the execution of legal subpoenas, he has tried to intimidate witnesses, he has cursed out heroic, peaceful protesters (involving the NFL), and he has been implicated in numerous scandals (from Trump University to the Ukrainian scandal). Trump has been a habitual liar. The Democratic Party is also having an internal debate. Some want the Democrats to become more progressive, and some want it to embrace a more moderate approach. The DNC rule change that deals with debates (or candidates will no longer need to meet any specific requirements. For example, the candidate will need a few polls or earn a delegate in Iowa or New Hampshire to join a debate) have caused a benefit to candidates like Michael Bloomberg. This change have caused anger from many progressives. Michael Moore spoke out against Bloomberg, Bloomberg talks about his support for gun control, his policies to fight climate change, and his efforts to expand health care. Yet, many people don't know that Bloomberg imposed a five year wage freeze after the 2008 financial crisis, demanded cuts to pensions, eliminated more than 6,000 teaching positions, closed 20 fire companies, and promoted stop and frisk in New York City as mayor (he recently apologized for that bad stop and frisk policy).

Bloomberg was in the race in part because of Warren and Sanders talking about having billionaires experiencing true accountability in their lives via progressive economic policies. Joe Biden, Pete Buttegieg, Elizabeth Warren, Amy Klobuchar, and Bernie Sanders were the leading candidates until early 2020. What we do agree on is that we desire environmental protections, an expansion of health care, the elimination of economic inequality, promoting racial justice, and the love of democratic freedoms. History teach us that structural change is necessary beyond piecemeal policies, in causing our world to see an egalitarian, justice-filled existence. That is the truth. Social Security, civil rights laws, voting rights laws, Medicare, Medicaid, and other progressive policies existed by sacrifice, revolutionary action, and courage not moderation. The Democratic race is less diverse, but the backbone of the Democratic Party are black people. No one can win the election without black people, other people of color, women, young people, working class people, rural people, people of the urban communities, and other minorities. That's reality. Our black lives matter, and voting matters. The reason is that voting determines education benefits, voting rights, which judges are on the courts, who will you have in city council, and how your resources are allocated to your communities. Therefore, this is about our freedom being protected and expanded as justice is for all. We have to support many people doing independent farming and other alternative ways of developing resources. In the final analysis, we want the oppressed to have power to determine their own destinies independently as human beings. I a'int came here to play now. We're grown, and the following facts will inspire us to keep on going in this journey for freedom.

Surprises

This 2020 Presidential election is very unique. One of the many surprises in the race was about how the races of Kamala Harris, Andrew Yang, and Cory Booker ended. Their discontinuing of their campaigns were about them not having enough resources to continue. Even in 2020, massive money is needed to maintain campaigns, to spread information, and to host rallies nationwide. Campaigns are brutal and hard. Candidates have to watch every word that they say, and they have to use strategies to organize debates plus policies to appeal to people. They myth from Trump is that America's economy is in record highs benefiting everyone. The reality is different. Trump's policies have not stop income inequality. This trend started for decades. The growth of for profit charter schools, the restructuring of the auto industry, and the refusal to change the Affordable Care Act into universal health care for real are realities. There is a decline in manufacturing employment since 1979. While Trump uses xenophobic tirades against Mexico and China about its workers, but auto jobs have declined worldwide. From 2016 to 2019, nominal wages rose only 6.79 percent. Total real compensation declined by 0.22 percent. There is no increase of the national minimum wage of $7.29 since 2009. Part time and gig work are more common place. Part time employment has risen 3.4 percent since 2000. 3 in 10 Americans relay on gig work for part of their income. The Brookings institute said that 44 percent of the U.S. workforce have low wage jobs.

Nearly half of the country can't make an unexpected $400 expense without taking on debt. The wealth of the three richest Americans (Warren Buffett, Jeff Bezos, and Bill Gates) is more than the wealth of 150 million Americans (or 255 billion dollars) That is why the major leaders of both major parties are tied to Wall Street. Poverty and inequality can never be stopped until the whole structure of society is changed to benefit the people collectively not the 1 percent. Working class people and other oppressed people are fighting back. There are many strikes, many programs, and other actions that folks are doing to combat oligarchy. The neoliberal system doesn't work. Another shock is the rise of Michael Bloomberg for a temporary period of time. He has promoted stop and frisk and redlining for years before he issued his apology. He is in favor of the privatization of education. He has been accused of misogyny and profane language by his own workers. Also, he tried to get the African American vote for winning Democratic primaries.

The delegate increase of Buttegieg is surprising, because he is the one who is trying to be the front-runner (while claiming to oppose revolution). Pete Buttegeig's campaign falsely claimed that actor Keegan-Michael Key supported him, and senior advisor Lis Smith has been accused of using digital blackface in running a fake Nigerian account. What is not surprising is the Democratic centrist establishment trying to end the progressive political movement in the Democratic primary with rule changes, delays of voting, shameless corporate media support (one example is how Chuck Todd sad that he doesn't understand how Bernie Sanders is the front runner, and he quoted an article that slandered Bernie Supporters as Brownshirts when Bernie's family were victims of the Holocaust. The corporate media is silent on how one of Biden's supporters is calling Sanders a self hating person), and propping up moderates. You can't defeat Donald Trump with a candidate blaming redlining being gone for the financial crisis of 2008 or not wanting any increase of the minimum wage that Michael Bloomberg has advocated.  The DNC neoliberals are allied, in many cases, to neocons like Bill Kristol and David Frum, because they want a more imperialistic, confrontational foreign policy.

Primaries

The 2020 Iowa primary will go down as one of the most bizarre primaries in American history. The Democratic Party establishment is very clear that they are trying their best to stop Bernie Sanders’ momentum. Later, National Democratic Committee Chairman Tom Perez wanted the Iowa Democratic Party to start a recanvas of the stats because of app issues. The final figures from the Iowa Democratic Party mentioned that Sanders had more than 6,000 votes ahead of Pete Buttegieg (who is the former mayor of South Bend, Indiana). This caucus took place on February 3, 2020.  Sanders had 24.8 percent of the vote compared to 21.3 percent for Buttegieg. Sanders had a smaller lead in the 2nd round. Sanders won more popular votes, but the delegates won was nearly a tie among Sanders and Buttegieg. Perez wanted an audit of worksheets and reporting form every precinct and satellite caucus. He wanted to check for inconsistencies, math errors, and other mistakes. The result of this could change the Iowa caucus results against many candidates. The Iowa State Democratic Party Chairman is Troy Price, who apologized for the Iowa debacle. Price was the Iowa state director for Hilary Clinton's’ campaign back in 2016. He later became state chairman. Perez was praised by the Clinton wing of the party. Do you see a pattern here? The issue is that the Bernie Sanders’s campaign was scaring the Democratic establishment.

We know of Bernie’s imperfections. Yet, it is bigger than that. It is about the DNC’s fear of the larger public not being afraid of the socialist term (and of revolutionary change as the moderates wants piecemeal changes). Many people in the public include working people and the youth who want to fight war, militarism, and economic injustice. Bernie’s eloquent speeches play into that movement. That is why Vice President Joe Biden has criticized socialism without explaining its definition. Biden has lost the Iowa caucus and is expected to not be victorious in New Hampshire. The Sanders campaign said that it has raised $25 million from more than 648,000 donors in January of 2020. That is the best fundraising month of his campaign. Many people funding his campaign are teachers, Post Office workers, those from Target, those form Amazon, etc. Some in the DNC have more hatred of democratic socialism (that Dr. King and others have praised) or socialism in general than Donald Trump in my view. The Iowa caucus took a long delay in releasing results. About 175,000 people participated in the caucus meetings.  Bloomberg is supported by many corporate interests in case Biden loses the nomination. The Sanders and Warren faction of the party desired more progressive people to lead the Democratic Party. The more moderate Biden-Buttigeieg-Bloomberg-Klobuchar wing wanted to gain power in order for more centrists to run the party. The truth is that Trump is an existential threat to democracy. He must be voted out of office on November 2020.

Commemorating the 55th Year Anniversary of the Selma March

This time is the 55 year anniversary of the March from Selma to Montgomery including Bloody Sunday. Bloody Sunday was on March 7, 1965. It was a time when peaceful protesters were terrorized by white racists and crooked police officers. To begin with, you have to understand the time. Black people were deprived of the right to vote back then in Selma, Alabama (plus throughout other places in America). The movement to give voting rights to black people consisted of diverse people from SCLC, SNCC, the Dallas County Voter League, young people, people of different races, clergy folks, etc. The Selma movement was a multiracial, working class movement that desired institutions of oppression to be eliminated. John Lewis was one man who was victim of Bloody Sunday. He is a hero to this day. Also, many unsung people were involved in the Selma movement like Ulysses S. Blackmon, Amelia Boynton, Samuel Boynton, Bruce Boynton, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Diane Nash, James Orange, Hosea Williams, Kwame Ture, James Forman, Prathia Hall, Fay Bellamy Powell, Bernard Lafayette, Annie Lee Cooper, Marie Foster, Rev. Fredrick Reese, James E. Gildersleeve, and so many other human beings. C.T. Vivian was a leader of the movement too. Jimmie Lee Jackson was murdered when Jimmie wanted to protect the life of his mother. The first Selma march was in response to the death of Jimmie Lee Jackson and the arrest of James Orange. The Selma movement in general was caused by black working class and poor people who wanted justice and an end to Jim Crow apartheid. The working class and freedom loving people in general desired an end to oppression. Jimmie Lee Jackson died on February of 1965. John Lewis would led the march. By March 7, 1865, it was Bloody Sunday when about 600 civil rights marchers came about. The leaders of the march was John Lewis of SNCC, Reverend Hosea Williams of SCLC, Bob Mants of SNCC, and Albert Turner of SCLC. They crossed the Edmund Pettus Bridge. They saw an army of state troopers and county posse. County Sheriff Jim Clark made any white male over 21 to be deputized if they came to the courthouse. John Cloud was the commanding officer. Cloud told Rev. Hosea Williams that nothing could be done. Seconds later, troops shoved the demonstrators. The troops kicked women, men, and children. They used tear gas on people. Many people went into the hospital like Amelia Boynton. John Lewis was almost killed. Some of the troopers used horseback to charge at people. The TV had shown what happened to homes nationwide.

Worldwide, folks saw the images. This caused the Voting Rights Act to be passed later by the summer of 1965. Amelia Boynton helped to organize the march. A police officer beat a 14 year old marcher named Lynda Blackmon Lowery. She was a victim of overt racist terrorism. 17 marchers were in the hospital and 50 were treated for injures. LBJ immediately condemned the police violence. SNCC organized sit ins in D.C. Dr. King led the 2nd march, and then the 3rd march was established to finally reach Montgomery, Alabama. People died for the right to vote. On March 1, 2020, there was the annual bridge crossing jubilee among the Selma community to commemorate voting rights demonstrations. Many Democratic Presidential candidates were there and other leaders like Stacey Abrams. In 2020, voter suppression laws are real nationwide, the Voting Rights Act was gutting of Section Five in 2013, and we must always protect the right to vote. Also, it is important to recognize that eliminating racial oppression means to end economic injustice too. You have to understand racial disparities and class oppression. The Selma movement inspires us to this very day.

"...Don’t claim that you never supported cutting Social Security and Medicare when there is abundant evidence including full on real-time video clips showing that you did precisely that on numerous occasions...Don’t say you support universal health coverage when you are a dedicated enemy of national health insurance and have even vowed to veto Medicare For All if you were president..."

-Paul Street on Joe Biden 

The Historic 2020 Super Tuesday Results

Numerous people at MSNBC and CNN have celebrated the results on Super Tuesday. It seems like the many in the media want a moderate candidate. The truth is that progressives don't want everything for free. People want freedom to end the oppression found in the globe. This is not new. Since 1976, every single Democratic President was a centrist or center-left person. By late February 2020, Joe Biden won the South Carolina primary. Then, that momentum spread in other places of America. By March 2, 2020, the trio of Amy Klobuchar, Pete Buttigieg, and Beto O'Rourke united to support the candidacy of the former Vice President Joe Biden. Their goal plainly is to stop the candidacy of Bernie Sanders. Senator James Clyburn of South Carolina supported Biden. This endorsement has influenced South Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee, and North Carolina (which have large African American populations) to win it for Joe Biden. As an African American, folks should acknowledge the great backbone of the Democratic Party are black Americans. We made the Democratic Party more progressive by our efforts. Things have shifted, and many voters view a moderate candidate as being more viable to defeat Trump politically.

Bloomberg and Elizabeth Warren refuse to quit at first and left the race later on. Bernie Sanders is in the race for the long haul too. Many powerful Democratic leaders and members of the Democratic establishment have supported Biden like Harry Reid, Tim Kaine, Susan Rice, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, etc. Every candidate have strengths and imperfections. That is very clear. Also, we have witnessed a bizarre alliance among many neoliberals and neo-cons (from Frum to Max Boot) trying to use red baiting (with people like James Carville who called himself a political hack), lies, and promoting the myth of American exceptionalism in order to stop the Sanders movement.

The financial aristocracy has worked with the sections of the military industrial complex along with factions of the upper middle class (plus some of the wealthy) in order to promote their guy (who is Joe Biden). Like always, we respect the right to vote. We have to accept the right of voters to vote as they please. This is part of our constitutional rights. Also, we should recognize the fact that freedom is not equivalent to moderation. Freedom relates to revolutionary change. There is nothing centrist about the Voting Rights Act, the Civil Rights Act, Medicare, Medicaid, and other great legislation. After Super Tuesday, it appears to be a 2 person race. The paradox is that Sanders is more progressive than Biden (Sanders have spoken out more courageously on issues than Biden), but Sanders has trouble in expanding his base to be more multi-ethnic and more diverse in general from across states. To be fair, people of every color and of diverse backgrounds are supporters of Bernie Sanders. Another paradox is that Bloomberg spent millions of dollars in many states, and he hasn't won much during these primaries. This proves that some candidates won't win regardless of wealth. I certainly respect Elizabeth Warren's detailed plans to address racial injustice, housing problems, criminal justice matters, and other issues. As for the March 10th, 2020 victories for Joe Biden, Biden won these victories in the Michigan, Missouri, and Mississippi primaries.

As of early March of 2020, Biden has more delegates than Sanders. On November 2020, I will vote against Trump. I won't forget what many have done in slandering progressives though. Every day of my life, I will remember. Therefore, the eyes on the prize is to vote Trump out of office.


The truth matters. There are some who don't know about what the Democratic establishment means. The Democratic establishment is made up of a select group of neoliberal centrist leaders, members of the DNC,  some Congressional leaders, and other people in the Wall Street, corporate world that desire more pragmatism, compromise to the status quo, and reform than comprehensive change. Many members of the Democratic establishment have no shame in advancing red baiting, outright falsehoods, and disrespect of real progressives. In retrospect, I shouldn't be surprised at this outcome. Bree Newsome Bass made an excellent point that many of my people (i.e. black people) aren't monolithic, and many of our people voted for Biden for various reasons. Many African Americans voted for Biden not because of Biden being the most progressive candidate (which he is not). Many black people voted for him, because of different reasons from some liking him, some thinking that he can defeat Trump, some knowing that many Americans won't like a progressive candidate (this is a defensive vote), and for other reasons. Also, many African Americans voted for Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren. Therefore, black voters should never be scapegoated. Still, we will always fight for universal health care and a redistribution of economic plus political power to help all Americans not just the wealthy. We will fight against structural racism.

"...Instead of de-escalating the U.S. placed missile batteries in Iraq and continues saber rattling against Iran. The fantasy of regime change against Iran is ever present and any resistance to the U.S. presence in Iraq is blamed on Iran, the true target of all U.S. plotting..."

-Margaret Kimberley's "Freedom Rider: COVID-19 Covers Up War and Financial Collapse" 

A Summary of the 2020 Presidential Election Events

The 2020 Presidential election is one of the most unique elections in world history. It has been filled with ups and downs. It has been completely different than the 2016 election in a myriad of ways. This election is the 59th quadrennial United States Presidential election. Back in 2017, candidates like John Delaney announced his candidacy for the Presidency by July 28, 2017. On November 6, 2017, Andrew Yang of New York announced his candidacy for the Presidency. Arvin Vohra by July 3, 2018 ran on the Libertarian ticket. By August of 2018, the Democratic Party officials and TV networks discussed about the nature of 2019 Democratic debates. Changes are made to deal with the role of superdelegates about only allowing them to vote on the first ballot if the nomination is uncontested. By November 6, 2018, the midterm elections allowed Democrats to takeover the House and the Republicans have a slight majority on the Senate. Democrats have a net gain of 41 seats, and the GOP has a net gain of 2 seats of the Senate. West Virginia state senator Richard Ojeda had a short Presidential run on the Democratic side from November 11, 2018 to January 25, 2019. Former secretary of housing and urban development Julian Castro formed his presidential exploratory committee on December 12, 2018, and Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts does the same on December 31, 2018. 2019 was when the Presidential campaign started to increase in power. Tulsi Gabbard runs for President on January 1 and Julian Castro does the same on January 12. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand announced her Presidency on January 15, 2019. On January 21, 2019, Kamala Harris launched her campaign in Oakland, California with a historic message. A large crowd came to support her. Mayor of South Bend, Indiana Pete Buttigeig announced his exploratory committee on January 23, 2019. On January 27, 2019, Starbucks founder Howard Schultz said that he possibly wants to run for President as an independent. He quits that goal. Author Marianne Williamson of California ran for President on January 29, 2019. Cory Booker, who is a Senator, went into the race on February 1, 2019. By February 9, 2019, Elizabeth Warren announced her run for the President, and Senator Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota does the same on February 10. Bill Weld later challenged Trump on the Republican side. Bernie Sanders of Vermont announced his Presidency on February 19, 2019. The Green party member Dario Hunter runs for President on February 18, 2019. Jay Inslee or the Governor of Washington state run for President on March 1. Former governor Hickenlooper of Colorado runs for President on March 3, 2019. As early as March 5, 2019, Michael Bloomberg decided to run an exploratory committee if he wants to run for President on 2020. Beto O'Rourke started to run for President on March 14, 2019.

Gillibrand runs for President officially by March 17, 2019. The race includes many candidates. Castro, Delaney, Klobuchar, Ryan, and Warren are at the Heartland Forum at Beuna Vista University in Storm Lake, Iowa to discuss issues affecting rural Americans. The candidates speak at the National Action Network convention from April 3-5, 2019. Tim Ryan ran for President on April 4, 2019. On April 8, Mike Gavel and Eric Swalwell run for President too. Peter Butigieg is in the race officially by April 14 and Seth Moulton goes into the race on April 22. The April 24, 2019 She the People Presidential Forum was held at Texas Southern University in Houston, Texas discussing issues affecting women of color. Eight Democratic candidates attended the meeting. A forum in Las Vegas allowed the candidates to talk about low income Americans at April 27, 2019. Michael Bennet of Colorado runs for President on May 2, 2019. Then, Governor Steve Bullock of Montana announced his candidacy for the nomination of the Democratic Party on May 14, 2019. New York Mayor Bill de Blasio ran for President on May 16, 2019. Castro, Inslee, Harris, and Sanders discussed immigration reform at the Unity and Freedom Forum at the Hilton Pasadena, in Pasadena, California. 10 candidates discuss issues involving low income Americans at Washington D.C. at Trinity Washington University. The first Democratic debate was on June 26-27 at downtown Miami at Adrienne Arsht Center. Swalwell dropped out of the race on July 8, 2019. The race allows Tom Steyer of California to run for President on July 9, 2019. CNN made the second debate on July 30-31. Gravel dropped out on August 1, 2019. As time goes on, the candidate meet with forums addressing issues involving black Americans, Latino Americans, Native Americans, and other people. Moutlon leaves the race on August 23, 2019. Inslee drops out at August 21, 2019. August 28 was when Gillibrand leaves the race. On September 20, 2019, Bill De Blasio drop out. On October 2, 2019, Bernie Sanders had heart surgery. By October 10, 2019, 9 Democratic candidates appear at the LGBTQ Forum in Los Angeles, California. Ryan dropped out on October 24, 2019.

November 1, 2019 was when Beto O'Rourke left the race as the 9th candidate from the Democratic side to have done so. Deval Patrick goes into the race on November 14. He was the former Massachusetts governor. On November 20, 2019, the fifth Democratic debate occurred at Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta. Messam dropped out of the Democratic race. Bloomberg runs for President on November 24, 2019. Sestak leaves the Democratic primary on December 1, and Bullock drops out on December 2, 2019. On December 3, 2019, Kamala Harris leaves the race. 2020 was when the emotional, strategic side of the Presidential race has grown into new levels. By January 2, 2020, Julian Castro leaves the race. Williamson leaves the race on January 10, 2020. 8 Democratic candidates go to the Iowa Brown and Black Forum in Des Moines, Iowa on January 20, 2020. The Iowa Democratic caucuses come by February 3, 2020. February 11, 2020 was when New Hampshire primary was won by Sanders by votes with Buttegeig winning more delegates. February 29, 2020 was the start of a new era of the Presidential race. That was when Joe Biden won the South Carolina Democratic primary. Steyer left the race. Soon, Klobuchar dropped out of the race including Buttigieg. They endorsed Biden as moderates. Biden wins big on Super Tuesday on March 3, 2020. The race has Biden and Sanders with the most delegates. Bloomberg leaves the race and endorses Biden. Elizabeth Warren left the race on March 5, 2020. On March 19, 2019, Tulsi Gabbard left the race and supported Biden. The race remains a 2 person race between Bernie Sanders and Joe Biden. The Presidential campaign continues.

Reflections

Today, it is certainly a time of reflection and a time to recognize what has happened politically. It is truly historic when some in the corporate media attacked one candidate for trying to make neo-New Deal policies real while glamorizing another candidate who is unapologetic about his moderate views, his pro-imperialistic foreign policy, and his acts on girls plus women that would get ordinary people arrested. Yet, we live in this new era of our history. We have seen the progressive populist Bernie Sanders (who has imperfects on his economic nationalism, his views on reparations, his views on not being strong enough on intersectionality though Sanders is better on this issue in 2020 than in 2016) have been disrespected, slandered, and maligned ironically greater by some in MSNBC and CNN than FOX News. Red baiting has been promoted by the liberal establishment (not true progressives), pro-Trump reactionaries, and by neo cons. The neo con David Frum called Sanders a "Marxist of the old school of dialectical materialism." That is a lie. The former MSNBC host Chris Matthews said that before the New Hampshire primary that Sanders' democratic socialism is akin to the threat of execution in Central Park (and the Reds winning the Cold War). That is another lie. The liar Stephen Cloobeck (who is a major Democratic funder and former Diamond Restrots CEO) said that Sanders is an anarchist and would love to burn down the United States. Some in MSNBC even praised Michael Bloomberg's campaign. Former Root columnist Jason Johnson said the misogynoir comment about black women supporters of Sanders. Johnson called them, especially Sister Briahna Joy Gray and Sister Nina Turner, the offensive term of them members of: "the island of misfit black girls". This was so inappropriate that he had to be forced to apologize. Jason Johnson is known for his hypocrisy. MSNBC pundit Donny Deutsch wanted to vote for Trump if Sanders won the Democratic primary. He's a hypocrite. The oligarch Bloomberg slandered Sanders as a communist. Pete Buttigeieg claimed that Sanders wanted to burn down the house. Pete is wrong for that comment. Matthews said that Sanders (many of Sanders' relatives were victims of the evil Holocaust in Poland) winning Nevada was like the fall of France to the Nazis in 1940 that he or Chris Matthews apologized for.

The irony is that Sanders is advocating necessary reforms like progressive taxation, living wage, re-legalization of union organizing, green jobs organizing, and Medicare for all. The hatred of Sanders by many is about his Medicare for all proposal. His haters said that it is unaffordable, eliminates choice, and impossible to spend on. Biden, Buttigieg, Klochuhar, and Bloomberg claim that any Medicare for all system will eliminate medical coverage and tax people to death. This is not true. Sanders believes that quality health care is a human right. The current system is expensive, poorly burdensome, massively bureaucratic, and is dominated by select pharmaceutical companies. The prestigious medical journal The Lancet found that a single payer system will cut national health expenditures by 13 percent or more than $450 a year, save 68,000 lives a year, etc. Replacing premiums, decuctiables, copyaments, and out of pocket costs with progressive taxation can save the average U.S. family $2,400 a year and give lower income families new medical services. Even Sanders has shown ways to pay for his programs. The American rich are undertaxed. Eric Schmidt and others slander Sanders as equivalent to Trump. The people who do this are also Jennifer Rubin and other neo-cons. Trump is a racist, a sexist, a vulgar violator of democratic norms, and a habitual liar. Sanders are not those things. The fact is that the leadership of both Republicans and Democrats are dominated by corporate and imperial interests. Some members of the Democratic establishment would rather lose to a right wing extremist like Trump than allow a progressive, social democratic person like Sanders to win. O'Donnell is wrong to assume that there is no Democratic establishment.

The common neoliberal line is that we should reject ideological purity tests, but the eliminating of slavery in America required ideological courage. It is a sad day in America when some Democrats are so right wing that some of them even considered voting for a former Republican like Michael Bloomberg to save them from a New Deal Democrat like Bernie Sanders. Henry Wallace, in his most progressive days, would be slandered by the Democratic Party establishment during this time in my view. In fact, on economic issues, most Democratic candidates now are to the right of Hubert Humphrey. Warren and Sanders certainly aren't radicals, but moderate social democrats. Even promoting change in the capitalist system is too much for these neoliberal extremists like Carville including others. American oligarchs dominate most of our economic and political resources. That should change. Incremental change doesn't work to eliminate oppression. Jennifer Epps-Addison is right to say that, "This is not a time for black people to live in a moderate America." She is the Co-Executive Director of the Center for Popular Democracy, and she supports Bernie Sanders for President. Society needs revolutionary change to deal with racism, sexism, homelessness, and other evils. The bourgeoisie will want to maintain their interests. To see Obama allies Van Jones, Robert Gibbs, David Ploufe, and David Axelrod recently witnessing the Super Tuesday results is ironic. Obama supporter Rahm Emanuel is so extreme that he wanted to disrespect progressives, was a terrible mayor of Chicago, and wanted to purge antiwar candidates from the party's 2006 House of Representatives candidate roster. Michael Smerconish liken Sanders and his supporters to the coronavaius is offensive. In real life, the Nazis called Jewish people and socialists viral infections. Now, Joe Biden is promoted as nearly God by many members of the corporate class and their agents in the corporate media. Biden is the one who gropes on women and girls without permission plus he comes to smell their hair like a pervert, called a man too old to vote, and said to a woman that she is a "lying dog-faced pony-soldier." Biden goes around saying that he's running for the Senate (when he's actually running for President), glamorizes racist segregationists, and boats about he would have beaten up Trump behind the gym in high school. Yet, the corporate media wants us to praise this man Joe Biden  as a near savior. Biden is to the right of progressive values on public health insurance, Social Security, bankruptcy law, credit card interests rates, the prison industrial complex, the war in Iraq, etc. The sad thing is that Biden most probably will be the Democratic nominee. Yet, a miracle can happen. The red baiting of the Democratic establishment in 2020 will never forgotten by me. These days are clear that we won't stop promoting real progressive views.

The Biden and Sanders debate on March 15, 2020 was interesting. We see how Sanders is wrong to say that an immigration policy is akin to slavery. Slavery was tyranny where black Americans were stripped of language, culture, and creed. Slavery in the United States of America was about black people being forced to work without pay in the midst of black people experiencing torture, abuse, and oppression. Biden is wrong for overtly promoting U.S. imperialism. It's incredible how overtly imperialistic Biden is. He is blatantly advancing militarism. Biden fails to see the difference between condemning authoritarianism and acknowledging positive policies in a country. Just because you acknowledge positive outcomes in a nation doesn't mean you agree with the nation on every issue.

We disagree with Putin, but we don't want a military conflict with Russia. Biden omits that America supported dictators like Pinochet, Batista, Diem, Marcos, Hussein, the Shah, Saudi Arabia, etc. for generations as a product of promoting the interests of the military industrial complex (not the interests of Americans or freedom loving people worldwide). Sanders is the only candidate in the Democratic race now that recognizes the humanity of Palestinian people (and calling out the right wing extremist Netanyahu as a racist), wants to end the war in Yemen, and called out the Bolivian coup at the same time. The hypocrite and red baiter Biden talks about Cuba, but Obama did the same thing of respecting Cuba's educational system while condemning authoritarianism in Cuba. There is nuisance in life. There is a distinction between sincere people in a nation who want freedom and corrupt leadership running the policies in a specific nation. For example, the Soviet Union and America worked as a team heroically to defeat the Nazis during World War II, but we know that Stalin was a vicious dictator too. It is hypocritical for some to not criticize Trump in praising Saudi's dictator MBS as his "friend," but attack Bernie Sanders for Sanders just praising Cuba' literary record while condemning Castro's authoritarianism at the same time. Biden said that he will pick a woman as a Vice Presidential candidate. Sanders said that he will likely do it in choosing a progressive woman. Sanders should have made it unequivocally clear that he will pick a woman on the ticket. Biden said that he will pick an African American woman on the Supreme Court. The debate showed the differences among both candidates. Everyone knows who MSNBC and CNN (some of them in both networks condemn Sanders' record, but they are silent on Biden's record in saying that it doesn't matter. Tell that to the victims of the Iraq War) are rooting for. That's self-explanatory. For the record, I don't agree with Sanders' or his allies' imperfections. We know that black Americans deserve reparations. Economic nationalism (as the 1% and the system of oppression, not immigrants collectively, originated the economic problems in the black community. There are black immigrants too, and immigrants pay taxes) doesn't work, and imperialism is always evil plus unjust. No one is perfect. Sanders' errors can't be sugarcoated or justified. Wrong is wrong. Likewise, I disagree with some slandering Sanders too.

They (or many members of the media establishment) supported their guy from Delaware since early 2019 too. You need revolutionary solutions to deal with the coronavirus, because this is a global emergency. I do believe that a black woman should be on the Supreme Court and be a Vice Presidential candidate on the Democratic side. On the coronavirus, both candidates didn't mention capitalist exploitation as responsible for the spread of the disease rapidly to places of the world. Trump can send tons of money to Wall Street, but he initially refused to send billions of dollars ASAP to workers, doctors, and other people in need of medical help, respirators, hand sanitizes, masks, certain medicines, and other infrastructure necessary to combat the virus. Trump had to be pressured to execute certain policies in addressing COVID-19. There needs to be more hospitals built too. Joe Biden was slick saying that he is a Democrat with the big D implies that Sanders is no true Democrat. The reality is that Joe needs to be reminded of the First Amendment that says that we have the freedom of speech and the freedom of assembly to run for any party that we want even if we are Democrat or Independent. That is freedom. It is silly for those to blame Bernie for the situation that we're in when for decades, the Democratic party establishment shifted rightward from the DLC movement to other events. I don't agree with the CARES Act cutting out undocumented people, because all people deserve help regardless of immigration status. As Angela Davis has recently said, "Many people are realizing that capitalism is unequipped to meet the needs of the people." There are also racial disparities involved. Michigan reported as as of April 2020, there are over 10,000 cases of people with the virus and 417 death. Of that number, African Americans account for 35% of cases and 40% of the deaths. 14.1% of the Michigan population is Black American according to the U.S. Census. Biden talked about no new fracking (and calling for high speed rail. I have no issue with high speed rail. Sanders is more bold on climate change issues than Biden) without condemning fracking in general as harming communities, especially in poor areas plus communities of color. Bernie Sanders is more progressive than Joe Biden. Unfortunately, I didn't hear anything in the debate on poverty and ways to combat massive poverty in American society (that harms people of every color and of every background). Revolutionary change deals with results. In the midst of this coronavirus of 2020, the American certainly deserve universal health care, an UBI of at least $2,000 a month, canceling rent plus mortgage payment, and not deny healthcare to people based upon financial reasons. While Andrew Cuomo is right on the need for more resources from the federal government to be sent to New York state, he is completely wrong in advocating for cuts to Medicaid. Bernie Sanders has ended his campaign in April of 2020. David Sirota , Briahna Joy Gray, Nina Turner, and his other supporters have shown grit, wisdom, and determination in seeking a better world. They will mentioned as very heroic people.

Barack Obama, Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders have endorsed officially Joe Biden on April 2019. So, we have a race between Donald Trump and Joe Biden. The 2020 Democratic primary is made up of the paradox of having the most diverse Democratic field in American history. Yet, we have the case of a moderate vs. a right wing extremist. It is what it is. Like usual, Bernie Sanders acted graciously to Biden, but some want Sanders to grovel even more. That tells me that the neoliberal crowd could care less about revolutionary change but the status quo. Also, Biden must more thoroughly publicly address the sexual abuse allegation made against him by one woman. Biden has denied it. It's one thing if you changed your mind on an issue. It is quite another when dealing with sexual abuse. Also, Trump has been accused of sexual abuse by multiple women. We have to take any sexual abuse allegation seriously.

Like always, I will keep my promise to not vote for Trump on November 2020, because Trump is a racist, a sexist, and a threat to democracy in general. He must be voted out. Yet, Biden must realize that if he wants more votes, then he has to appeal to more progressives also. I am always reminded of one thing too. The rights of black people matter. The rights of women and immigrants matter, and the rights of the oppressed matter. Trump makes no bones about his goal to limit voting rights (even hating mail in voting), making sure that the Supreme Court is filled with reactionary judges, and to eliminate health care services from the ACA. Therefore, who we vote for will determine what our future will be like for generations to come. The sad thing is that we have a choice between a neoliberal centrist and a right wing extremist. Yet, we have to do what the right thing. Trump is a whole worse than Biden. During these times, we have to honor future generations by voting Trump out of office in 2020.

The Eyes on the Prize

The 2020 Presidential election is one of the most emotional, important elections in American history. We have many Democratic candidates debating issues as diverse as criminal justice matters to climate change. Yet, we can all agree that our eyes must be on the prize. That prize in making sure that Donald Trump is voted out of office by November 2020. That is the prize. Trump is notoriously an existential threat to democracy. The Trump administration forced the CDC to cut its epidemic prevention efforts by 80 percent in 2018. That isn't right as especially we face the coronavirus that is international in scope. Trump acts as a monarch with his violation of not adhering to legal subpoenas, his Muslim ban policies, his hatred of peaceful protesters against police brutality, and his constant demonizing of his political opponents in offensive terminology. With this coronavirus pandemic, it is important to acknowledge the great Sisters who are doing something about it. For example, Mayor London Breed of San Francisco is the 1st mayor in America to create a stay at home order. She is credited to lower cases and lower deaths as the San Francisco area has about 7 million people. Washington, D.C. mayor Muriel Bowser made early to close restaurant funding order, issued a stay hom order, and fought for more federal funding .She has issued daily COVID-19 briefing to assist her residents. Mayor Latoya Cantrell of New Orleans have increased testing capacity advocate for a disaster declaration, and sent out resources to the great city of New Orleans. Rep. Karen Bass, Rep. Robin Kelly, Rep. Barbara Lee, and other leaders have advocated for unemployment insurance, paid sick leave, resources to help hospital worker,s and advocacy for food security. Maxine Waters has promoted a large response to the pandemic via a comprehensive plan (that includes $2,000 for each American, $15 billion to fight homelessness, a freeze on evictions plus foreclosures, and no negative credit reporting during the crisis).

Trump has gotten worse after the House impeached him, and the Senate acquitted him (Mitt Romney was the only Senator who is a Republican that voted to convict Donald Trump). Back in July of 2019, Trump said these words; "...I have an Article II, where I have the right to do whatever I want as President..." He wasn't using hyperbole. He actually said what he believes. Trump has tried to intimidate judges who won't go along with his edicts. Trump has also tried to use the courts to eliminate affirmative action, health care laws, and voting rights protections. He has promoted the destruction of legitimate environmental regulations (that protects diesel from going into our lungs, and have our waters protected from dangerous chemicals) and hates progressive values. Trump call Democrats socialists, but many of today's Democrats are to the right of George McGovern, Edward Kennedy, FDR, and Hubert Humphrey. These human beings weren't moderates. They were liberals.

Let's keep it real. Centrists ought to be reject their purity tests of neoliberalism (like some former Republicans on CNN and MSNBC constantly want a moderate Democratic person to lead the Democratic ticket. FOX News is blatantly biased in favor of Trump), but see the bigger picture about how structural change is necessary to address income inequality, housing problems, education, foreign policy issues, etc. I am clear to reject Wall Street domination of the markets, the monopolization of the mainstream media, massive deregulation, massive privatization, the vast power of superdelegates, and cutting public institutions (as the Trump administration refuses to fund emergency preparations for a coronavirus pandemic until House Democrats agree to cut home heating aid for the poor by $37 million). We don't want plutocracy or oligarchy. We desire total justice and liberty for all. The GOP has a long history of voter suppression, appealing to racist interests, and red-baiting (like some neoliberals in our time too). Trump revels in misogyny and racism by calling Maxine Waters "low IQ." Maxine Waters is a heroic black women who has fought for the people for over 50 years. Trump has a sick desire to demonize black women who disagrees with his reactionary, repugnant agenda. Black women should always be treated with dignity and with respect. He is not respected by me. This is no time for wishful thinking. Donald Trump ought to be voted out of office in my view. I will never vote for Trump. Every Democratic candidate is better than Trump. Anyone who votes for Trump is totally wrong. That is why I will not vote for him, and I will vote to make sure that he is voted out of office. Massive, structural change is needed for America and the world to function. It is what it is. Also, it is important to maintain progressive, independent thinking.



By Timothy