Another one bites the dust

“When people say you're incapable of doing something because of your race, remind them that your ancestors picked cotton by moonlight.” Dr. BLR

 

The game of politics is really tricky, and you have to play your cards wisely; that is, if you’ve been involved and observed the game from the beginning and understand the rules and players. The same applies to racism and discrimination. However, this game is a bit more complicated, and coupled with politics, you need to be a grand champion. 

In 2015, when Donald Trump announced he would run for president, I didn’t think much of it because I believed the Republican establishment would easily beat him. However, as you know, many others and I were wrong. For four years, we had to watch to see if he’d keep his promises, as most politicians say they will. I gave him the benefit of the doubt because he wasn’t a politician, and those who voted for him probably knew something I didn’t. Still, it was a complete disaster from start to finish. His departure was made for prime-time TV and led to several civil and criminal cases. I thought we’d be rid of him, but his followers thought otherwise and let him back into the house, this time with some unexpected allies.

Several minority groups and Black American men believed he deserved a second chance and went out of their way to support him. Their voices echoed across numerous television screens as his supporters and critics paid close attention. I couldn’t believe we were back again to witness this nonsense, and I questioned why some of my associates would vote for him again, given his criminal record and racist background. It made me wonder if they, too, were racist and thought I was just one of the good ones. 

Over the years, Trump has committed many despicable acts against minority groups and revealed his true colors. His actions demonstrated that when he said “Make America Great Again,” it primarily benefited white people and the few people of color who overlooked his track record and bent the knee. Malcolm X said it best, “A wise man can play the part of a clown, but a clown can't play the part of a wise man.” Supporting him suggests that some groups are willing to ignore the truth and still vote for him. The instances of his disrespect toward minorities continue to increase.

Initially, Trump’s actions during Hurricane Maria showed a lack of concern for the people of Puerto Rico, as he was caught on camera shooting paper towels into a crowd of disappointed spectators who had come to see “their” president. It was heartbreaking, given how the U.S. has historically treated them. Still, several prominent Puerto Rican artists publicly supported him, even after the Hurricane Maria fiasco. Artists like Anuel AA and Justin Quiles stated, “Trump is the strongest president.” Interestingly, Puerto Ricans living on the island can’t vote in presidential elections. Oops!

I'm not surprised that the Hispanic community is drawn to figures like Trump. I understand they couldn’t support President Biden for re-election, but when Vice President Kamala Harris gained prominence, machismo revealed its ugly side. This isn’t just speculation; I’ve researched this and asked many Hispanic men why, and the common response was that they couldn’t vote for a woman, and a Black one at that. Unlike Puerto Ricans, who are U.S. citizens, most other Hispanics are immigrants or first-generation Americans. Their political views are shaped by the countries they come from. They often vote Republican to their own detriment, but I can’t blame them, given their history back home, even though they’ve never asked those of us with institutional knowledge of the Republican Party and its capabilities.

When Trump returned to office, he launched a sweeping crackdown on Hispanic communities. He directed his ICE Director, Tom Homan, and the U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem, to detain and deport as many undocumented immigrants as possible, including those in the Haitian community who had initially received Temporary Protective Status (TPS) in 2010 due to a devastating earthquake. This status allowed them to remain in the U.S. for about 18 months.  

Since 2020, parts of Haiti have been involved in an ongoing gang conflict, causing many to flee and immigrate to the U.S. Before that, some Haitians went out of their way to support Trump during his first run for president. Trump visited Miami’s Little Haiti to reassure supporters that he would fight for their causes, only to disappoint them and target their TPS after taking office. Many who voted for him felt betrayed, but the game was just starting. In his second bid for the presidency, Trump told the world, “They’re eating the cats and dogs.” I could only imagine the shock they felt when he said these words, whether they were true or not. The unfortunate part is the divide between the Haitian and Black American communities. If they had tapped into the familial racial ties, we’d have given them the 411, but they chose otherwise, like most Black immigrants.

The next targeted group was the Venezuelans. As part of a large wave of immigration across the Mexican border, many Venezuelan gang members slipped through the cracks and caused chaos in New York City. In mid-2025, several NYPD officers were attacked by members of the Venezuelan Tren de Aragua. This notorious gang was later designated a Foreign Terrorist Organization, prompting the Trump Administration to consider a potential full-scale war against Venezuela, likely to facilitate regime change. Several boats were blown up, and numerous civilians were killed because they were suspected of trying to transport drugs into the U.S. It’s unfortunate because many Venezuelans are law-abiding citizens who also embrace their Afro-Latino identity, which likely puts a target on their backs. 

The last group to discuss is the Somali community in Minnesota, which has about 61,000 people. In 1991, President George H.W. Bush granted TPS to Somali refugees because of the violent situation in their country. This status has been renewed several times over the years. However, during the COVID-19 shutdown, a federal investigation revealed that several Somali individuals were accused of defrauding the U.S. government of millions of dollars. This news greatly upset Trump. This area is also home to one of Trump’s nemeses, Representative Ilhan Omar, who is a congresswoman, and he refers to her constituents as “garbage.” I have to admit I’m not very familiar with this community because they live in Minnesota, a state I’ve never visited. I did a quick Google search about Somali communities and was saddened to learn that many of them hold anti-Black American views, often saying, “I’m not black, I’m Somali.” Also, I found a YouTube video where an Imam said, “Most of the African Americans we meet don’t even know their fathers. They were a product of a one-night stand.” At that moment, I chose not to feel anything because of the rejection from another group of people who share the same skin color but see us as anything but equal. 

Refugee and immigrant disdain for Black Americans is appalling. They should have understood the truth about race in America when Trump allowed white South Africans to enter the country easily, unlike y'all...but hey, if they knew this country's history, they would have known to talk to Black Americans, but they didn’t, so we will sit this one out. Peace!