it has been my observation that the Clarence Thomas's of the world exist everywhere.

But Trump really offers a double down for a black woman: he hates women AND people of color.

If you hope to work with her, offer an apology and make a pact to not discuss politics while you work on the project together.

might be a google group now, or something. Anyway, we keep track of events and deaths and those who still live in that area meet for lunch and so on. We have a really great website, one of the guys in the class created and maintains it.

Doctors, lawyers, mechanics, hairdressers, PR firm - varied mix of professions. I was not in any of the "cliques", so I just read the emails. No political stuff in the emails.

I would have bet a lot, though, that most are Republicans. Anyway, this morning, got a group email - "Reasons to Support Trump", with an embedded video. It was like finding a nasty bug in my email. What surprised me, though - instantly, three of my classmates replied with NO, no politics in this group. I was pleasantly surprised.

other human beings. Followers of a demagogue get what they deserve. Check out FB pages of artists and friend some. I meet artists almost every day.

Namely dealing with other AA's who are Trump supports (resulting in some spirited discussions in my case). Their small but growing trend that's probably gonna get worse as this election goes on.

Are the arguments for supporting Trump similar to what was said in the OP, in your experience?

I know I'm going to start being hammered from the white Trump supporters, asking how I can call them racist, bigoted supremacists when they see the trend of PoC supporting Trump, so I'd greatly appreciate some insight.

I totally understand that no group of people, no demographic is a monolith in terms of views and beliefs and such. So it may be impossible to even answer my question, as there are so many views and perspectives, even within the AA Community.

It has always sickened me how the people of color who are embraced by the Fox News crowd are those who demonize people of color in general (like Cosby did and was so beloved by many bigoted white people).

On one hand, I'm actually grateful that we're seeing what we're seeing at Trump rallies; it's pretty hard to deny that racism and bigotry exist to a significant degree in the country. And I do believe what we see at the Trump rallies is only the tip of the iceberg, and that it has been there all along, seething beneath the surface.

On the other hand, we're seeing so much divisiveness within the various marginalized groups that everything feels like a minefield. I engage about issues of racial and social justice and equity a lot and always have. I guess if I stick with anti-othering -- regardless who is doing it -- that may be the clearest path for me in moving forward.


EDIT TO ADD: There is a definite distinction between Trump supporters who believe they are superior because of the color of their white skin though and people of color who may follow him.

and many here will be in denial. I suspect the group the group will be larger than people expect.

....a business relationship with a Trump defender is a dangerous one. The Republicans that I know, family members included, will find some way to get what is yours. They don't honor their word and most certainly not a contract. Good luck to you on your project. If this falls through the Universe will supply....no worries.

She has praised Obama in the past, has a masters degree in women's spirituality and previously worked in a community bakery. She doesn't fit the profile of the archetypal Trump supporter at all.

I have FOX loving family and I really can't get too involved with them anymore. Walking on eggshells gets old and I can't take it anymore.

Well, I think that's the problem. I don't there IS an "archetypal" Trump supporter. I think there are Trump supporters.

A white, older, poorly educated male wearing the "Dixie swastika". Stereotyping isn't just something the far right does.

You said something there that everybody on this board should read.

you're racist? I mean this as an honest question, not a defensive attack.

Right now she has managed to put you on the defensive and feel like you're words could be construed as racism, but did you actually say anything that was racist against blacks? Do you really think your comment about Trump being chummy with the KKK equals you are a racist?

I can't tell you what to do but that's where I would start. Not trying to explain that I'm not a racist by being on the defensive, but by making my case by being up front and truthful. Start with the fact that if you were a racist you wouldn't give her credit for being a wonderful artist and that you certainly wouldn't want to work with her.

Understand that in many ways conservatives believe that the Democratic Party has traditionally been the 'Nanny' Party, treating poor people like they are children who need to be helped (which keeps them dependent and trapped) instead of people who should be encouraged to help themselves raise above their poverty (which I think Bernie is doing by pursuing a free college education across the board). Perhaps you can also tell her that because she told you this it forced you think about the issue she brought up in a different way and that you would surely love to have a real conversation about it with her. And if she chooses to keep your friendship you guys may end up being the best of friends who actually make a difference to and for each other.

She strikes me as being angry that our government system has kept her race down, which it has if we're honest about it. Perhaps you can start by telling her you think she's right about the system but wrong about you. You can lay it out for her and be honest and don't attach any expectations to what you say. Just put the truth out there. That's the best anyone can do. In a very subjective way she has put her truth out there herself. Match your truth to hers.

Then if she chooses to snub you at least you got your truth out there. Otherwise you'll spend the rest of your life feeling unjustly accused. The truth should always be paramount.

I think she sees me as a paternalistic white liberal who is challenged by her not fitting my perceptions of what people of color "should" be like. Which is a common black conservative trope, and may contain an element of truth.

will make you real friends. I believe this is how real friendships become real.

Evidently being treated paternalistically is a true trigger for her anger. It's something that as a woman is a trigger for me. I'm 68 so from the beginning my generation of women had to fight that paternal issue. It is actually quite insulting if you think about it. All my life I've had to deal with men who had a far lower IQ than mine telling me how I should act and what I should believe and do and what I'm capable of doing. But thankfully my life has benefited by having male friends who have treated me as an equal. Much of that is because I demanded it which I can see is what your friend is doing.

I get her anger.

I offered her an olive branch, and she accepted, saying "I'm glad we are friends". I think part of the appeal of Trump for her is that she sees him as "anti-establishment". Which I can argue with, but also understand, particularly when the real anti-establishment candidate has been consistently painted by his primary opponent and her surrogates as a horrible racist who only appeals to white people.

Its the number one thing they bring up the when I ask "why?"

Secondly is his anti-free trade positions (Trump hates NAFTA for example and would not approve the TPP.)

So those two issues transcend color and gender.

When I keep pressing beyond that that's when I begin to get the color breakdown.

White folks: "he just says what the rest of have been thinking. He's so un-PC, I love that". So yeah then they're secret bigots.

Black folks: "He's got a solid tax plan that's going to help with the income inequality". Ie, they've done their homework and feel his position on issues is just better despite his bigotry.

I've had a few who believe Trump's bigotry is just an act to get the nomination. He's not really that way and will roll that shit back once he's in the general election.

Fyi, I've done about 25 hours of phone banking for Bernie and 16 hours of canvassing so I've had a few opportunities to have extended conversations.

Where's his apparel made?

ETA: he's just like another of our candidates who will say or do anything they feel will help them in this attempt to win this election, truth and honesty be damned

and not wanting to intrude or whitesplain.

i have no real suggestions for you. i just wanted to say that being cognizant of spaces, is something i find admirable in majority members.

My advice is that if you want to continue the friendship, you might say that you obviously have different political views, and that perhaps it's best to avoid political arguments and focus on what really matters in your friendship, i.e. the artistic projects.

As someone who is both in an ethnic minority group in her country, and a political minority within that group, she may be on the defensive about people patronizing her and trying to 'convert' her. Also, being English myself, I have noticed that some right-wing Americans are a bit paranoid about people from other countries commenting on their politics (the same applies to some right-wing British people, especially in these days of the EU referendum!) and she may think you have some sort of weird agenda in doing so.

So it's probably best to avoid arguments in this case. If Trump wins - perish the thought! - it won't be through the vote of AA women in general, whatever a few individuals may do.

In the RWNJ imagination, Brits are all rabid monarchists who are still sore about 1776 and want to return America to British rule. A view that I've never heard anybody in the UK express, except as a joke.