To the Black and Latino men in my life

If you know me, you know that I am politically engaged with a  progressive agenda (check out the young me from my college days, lol). No doubt you have heard me extol the dangers of another Trump presidency. I know you may be disgusted with politics and think both sides are lying and full of shit, but I am making a special appeal to you to listen to me now. If you love me as a woman, as Latina, as someone who has always worked to make this country a more fair democracy, please hear me out.

Trump is counting on his machismo to appeal to men of color. He is trying to split black and Latino communities along gender lines. Everyone knows the best predictor of future behavior is past behavior. His abysmal history of harming communities of color, his project 2025 or his position on reproductive freedom that would be dangerous for your daughters, your sisters and all women you love are all just the tip of a repressive iceberg.

His macho posturing and reputation for "getting things done" (however illegal or morally reprehensible), is appealing to many black and brown men. And sadly, plain old sexism within black and brown communities is causing some men to vote for Trump simply because he is a male. 

I want to make a special appeal to friends of mine who are disillusioned with politics and tell me they do not plan to vote. To you, I want to clarify one thing. Casting a vote for one candidate is not sending them a valentine. It is not a love note to that candidate nor does it represent your total support of their platform. Voting for a candidate is simply a strategic chess move to reduce the harms to our communities of color, as well as our country.

Please, vote for Kamala Harris. She is not good on everything but she does represent a better agenda for all  Americans. Show your support for the first woman of color running for president on a democratic platform. 

I am signing off today by declaring "I am Puerto Rico".