On Saturday, Nov. 12, nearly 8,000 people rallied at MacArthur Park in Los Angeles for a peaceful protest against President-elect Donald Trump. Four miles south of the Anti-Trump march, tens of thousands of young people gathered at Exposition Park for Tyler, The Creator's Fifth Annual Camp Flog Gnaw music festival. While it was a completely different environment, the same feelings of anger and worry were palpable among the crowds and performers. At the festival, its surprise guest, Compton-based rapper YG, came on to perform the now anthemic "FDT" (which — ICYMI — stands for "F--k Donald Trump"). Maryland-born singer Gallant praised the festival at the beginning of his performance, noting that it was a place where the "disenfranchised" can come together. DJ Mustard addressed his fans, calling the results a "letdown" and the impending president a racist.
But how could an air of sadness and rage not fill the air? The results of the election are still sinking in for everyone across the country, and that was especially true for the many young women of color who were in attendance. "The moment I heard he was going to be elected, I was frightened," Thia, a 19-year-old half-black, half-Mexican festival-goer tells me as she sits by herself underneath a carnival ride, sparkling neon lights bouncing off her quirky gold-rimmed glasses. "I thought it was going to be Hillary — I was hoping and praying it'd be someone, anyone other than Donald Trump."
She was not alone in her sentiment.
According to the Washington Post, Black women were by and large Hillary Clinton's biggest group of supporters, at 94 percent. This, of course, should come as no surprise. I shouldn't have to remind you that Trump has made countless sexist remarks about women and many insulting comments about black Americans (not to mention receiving praise and support from former KKK leader and white supremacist David Duke).
But as Thia reminds me, this was no longer just a worry young black women could wish away — it was their very real, very imminent reality, one it seems they are still fumbling to make sense of. Here's what 11 young black women think about their future President-elect Donald Trump and how his presidency will affect the next four years of their lives.
Thia, 19
"Being biracial — I'm Black and Mexican — just hearing all the negative things, I'm like, dang, I'm a double threat. I'm definitely not happy with it. I'm sad that our voices can't be heard because even though this is supposed to be a democracy and our votes are supposed to count, it's all up to the Electoral College, so in reality, what we say really doesn't matter. It just bothers me. I just hope that the people who are in Senate, keep the checks and balances to keep him in check and make sure the power doesn't go to his head. Because even though he's in charge, he's not fully in charge. I'm hopeful."
Lily, 22
"What I'm most afraid of are those interpersonal connections. People being more OK with being outwardly racist and sexist and homophobic and Islamaphobic and xenophobic and all those other phobias because I've already seen it happen to people that I really care about who are scared to live their daily lives, scared to be deported, scared to just go to Walmart. This is the time for people to really come together and really support each other and to remember that we have to love each other and care for each other and look out for each other and to love ourselves, and to remember that is what's most important no matter what happens on the outside."
Minnin, 23
"I was in shock for a really long time, but at this point, I'm just really happy to be in a space that's uplifting and a little more positive. The thing I'm most concerned about is the supporters of — I don't even like to say his name — and coming into contact with them, and my friends and family coming into contact with them. That's what I'm most scared of."
Juanita, 24
"I did not want Hillary to win, reason being is that she's a liar. She went back on a lot of the things she said. And she wasn't completely honest about the things she was putting forth. Personally, I've done research on Hillary and I know exactly what she stands for, what she's a part of, and I don't agree with the things she's done, the things that her husband has done in the past as far as black people in jail and the laws that they've made. I'm going to embrace the president that's coming to be. I know that he has not said reputable things for minorities and it's not OK, but as long as he's willing to make a change. He's already open to Obamacare, he's not against gay people — I feel like we should give him a chance. I don't like what he said, I don't like the wall thing, but I don't think he meant it, I think he just said it to earn voters. I don't like how Hillary tried to earn the black vote using the hip hop community — I don't like that."
Jalea, 22
"I just hope for the best, honestly. You can only vote."
Cymone, 22
"F--k Donald Trump. Come Together. It's all we can do."
Tatiana, 23
"We need to come together as a collective if we want change and just work through what's going on right now."
Maniah, 19
"I am afraid."
Olivia, 26
"It's a sad, abrupt wake-up call. I'm scared because he has control over a lot of things. He's talking about deporting two to three million people, like, now — talking about really building a wall. It doesn't make sense. I am hopeful though about the unity that it's bringing."
Madison, 26
"I'm very scared. He has control over this country...and the things he wants to do... But all the protesting — people are actually agreeing on something for once."
Ill Camille, 32
"The results of the election weren't surprising to me. If you know how the system is set up, then this wouldn't be a surprise to you. They were trying to drive people more towards the popular vote, but Donald Trump spoke to the inner wants of the people and I knew it was going to turn out that way. So, I'm not surprised, and I'm prepared. To me, God is my ultimate leader, so I'm not worried about nothing. And if you follow that, then you already know all of this is written already. All of this is destined to happen already. You're already prepared. Sugar Free said some s--t like, 'If you stay ready, you ain't gotta get ready.' So that's the mindset I'm in. Another president, another day."
Images: Matthew Christensen; Goldenvoice
