Last night took an L, but tonight I bounce back
Wake up every morning, by the night, I count stacks
Knew that ass was real when I hit, it bounce back
(You ain’t getting checks)
Last night took an L, but tonight I bounce back
Boy, I been broke as hell, cashed a check and bounced back
D town LAX, every week I bounce back
If you a real one, then you know how to bounce back (Big Sean)

 

Alright folks, we have cried, yelled, debated, eaten lots of carbs, laughed at funny memes, drank too much brown liquor, and considered moving to another country; but now it’s time to pull our shit together and bounce back.   Shit sucks, no doubt.  Not because we lost- as folks are trying to say- but because America elected a fucking imbecile.  We’ve survived many Republican presidents and other presidents whom we did not favor;  but this is different.  This time we are worried if we — if our country and it’s foundational values — will survive a misogynistic, racist, classist, xenophobic man who has a huuuuuge ego and a tiny, closed mind.

Of course, we and America will survive.  Now that, I’ve emptied my overflowing, tissue-filled trashcans and come out of my wine and Cheeto induced fog; I am certain, for multiple reasons, that we can actually thrive.

We are ready.  This ain’t the first time any of us have faced racism.  We’ve been Black all of our lives.  By now, one would hope that you are comfortable in your peach, tan, mocha, black or sienna colored skin.  Being Black is similar to your favorite dessert: it’s sweet; but it’s also high in calories and will cost you.  So Trump can unleash and reveal the racists; but we are ready to deal with them and it.

We’ve had Barack Obama.  For 8 years, we’ve had a Black President.  We had a Black first lady.  We watched the two of them love each other, with their two Black children: classy, intelligent, scandal-free, calm, and full of integrity.  It is imprinted in us.  It is imprinted in our children. President Obama and Michelle had to maneuver a racist, hostile and adversarial Congress and country in a way that would not threaten White privilege and power, while still meeting the needs of an angry, anxious minority population.  We have been fortified simply by their existence. The power of seeing it done—a Black man holding the most powerful position in the world—has made us walk taller, stronger, with a little extra sway to our hips.

We still Have Barack Obama. And I don’t think Obama is done. He has been a public servant his entire adult life; he isn’t stopping now. And he now has the freedom to do what he’s always wanted to do, but was prohibited from doing.  Clearly, Black America needs a leader. Perhaps we have one now?

We are more supported.  Many have fought hard to deny the existence of racism in the United States.  That’s impossible now.  Black folks ain’t the only woke ones.  Folks from all cultures, races, genders, socio-economic levels done got the wake-up call.  Acknowledgement is powerful.  When people have a common enemy; they band together.  It’s unfortunate that our enemy is our current President and his separatist ideals; but, we will come out of this period (which I hope is no longer than two years) closer as Americans — diverse Americans.

(Because) We must remember the bell curve.  Most Americans – the fat part of the bell curve – embrace the idea that we are a diverse county.  While this election stripped America naked and revealed it’s private parts — which caused many of us to feel embarrassed, disgusted or shocked, we must realize that there is more good than bad (yes, our legs have a bit of cellulite, but we ain’t looking too bad).  While Trump won the election, the majority of people did not and do not support him and his ideals.  It’s impulsive to focus on the assholes at the end of the bell curve—yelling their racist, sexist ideals in planes, stores and on the streets; however it’s a realistic representation of our country to focus on the fat part of the bell curve: the 60% of Americans who embrace all that this country was founded on.

And this is a fat bell-curve of people who ain’t fucking around.  Do I think that the Women’s march would have been as large if it was all about Black Civil Rights — hell-to-the-naw.  But, I’ll take it.  You pissed off cause your same-sex marriage is threatened?  Health care?  Immigration?  I don’t care—we are all in this equality-fight together and damn can Black people use these new soldiers. They are mad, protected, connected, respected and pissed off.

I don’t know about you, but I accomplish the most when I am anxious or angry.  I’m ret to handle some business.  I’m woke — I’m 3-shot espresso woke.  I like it.  I’m am not at all doubtful that I’m going to do more, do better now because I’ve been reminded that I can’t afford not to.  I almost want to send Trump a note thanking him for the reminder to kick ass and not worry about the names.  It’s on — time to Bounce Back!

For now, whether you’re young or young at heart, I do have one final ask of you as your President – the same thing I asked when you took a chance on me eight years ago.

I am asking you to believe. Not in my ability to bring about change – but in yours. – Barack Obama, 44th President of the United States