four more

if you're anything like me, you're facebook is covered in friends detailing their voting experience this morning, encouraging everyone else to exercise this democratic right, and in general, sending out their positive thoughts into the universe about what they hope this election's outcome will be.

(which, if you see my subject line, it's clear where i stand. not to get political, but some things just need to be said.)

which is why my i felt a swift punch to my gut when i saw a posting from one of my amazing, intelligent, sensitive, former students who posted this:

what's terrible is that i can't help but wonder if he's right. is racism going to prevail in this election?  i worried it might four years ago, and i can't help but be even a bit more desperate this time around.  perhaps it's because i am truly appalled by the many people i've defriended because of racist rants they've posted on facebook this election season, or the kind of political climate i'm deeply concerned about entering - for me as a woman, specifically,  and for me as an American, generally - if these thoughts win out, and we elect another upper class white man.

i don't know if my former student is right. i do know that he has every right in the world to be angry, to doubt, to cast out his frustration at the world that does seem to reward whiteness and vilify blackness.

i do know that i believe in hope, and i believe in four more.