It’s been one week and five days since election night, and a week and a day after President Elect Joe Biden and Vice President Elect Kamala Harris were called to win this historic 2020 presidential election. It felt like the fate of America rode off this moment. Shoot, it felt like the fate of the world relied on this election honestly.

Since that glorious Saturday morning, when the race was called for the two Democratic leaders, Donald Trump has been claiming a “rigged election”- of course because, ya know sore loser. But when the race was called on November 7th, many of us exhaled a collective sigh of relief. For a moment it felt like things were looking up and hopeful; however, my relief quickly soured into paranoia. I probably should’ve laid off the news, but shortly after Biden-Harris won, 45 continued to 45 and pretty much worked to ruin the moment with his antics. Since then, I feel like I’ve low-key been living with this underlying fear. Seeing the reaction of Far-Right supporters made me want to hide. I’ve even been seriously considering getting armed and moving into a neighborhood I feel more accepted and safer in…it’s 2020 people, and that’s sad. Then the results from exit polls (where you could see the hard divide in race amongst voters) coupled with the rage of 45-supporters, and their migration/slinking to dark corners of the web like effin Parler (where actual bigots now congregate in under the veil of “free speech”) made my mind spiral. It was a lot to take in after experiencing this brief sense of euphoria. I’d say in the aftermath of things, I’m hopeful and the overall weight and stress of this election has been lifted but I’m majorly disappointed in a pretty large subset of people, especially the people I’d assume would understand why the MAGA mentality and it’s bunkered-up leader have been completely toxic to American culture. I seriously won’t be able to look at the American flag the same way for a hot minute, or people I’ve known, or neighborhoods I used to frequent. It all seems tainted to me. I know things can change and perspectives can shift, but right now- I’m just like dang man, you don’t see us or our hearts and you really don’t understand why we see this guy and his Trumpology as a threat.

Of course more strangeness has happened since then…as a matter of fact, yesterday was the lil “Million Maga March,” insert eyeroll here for these people continuously bopping off of Black folks. Seeing them ranting, brawling, (again) diminishing the American flag with bigoted flags and just the hatefulness…was scary. Sigh, this is the country people of color are supposed to feel grateful for. If I ever thought a repeat of the Civil Rights era were to happen, I’d say it would be right now, it’s been insane. But at least world leaders have been acknowledging the historic win with congratulatory messages and well wishes. It kinda let me know this victory wasn’t made up in my mind, we weren’t being gaslit, and the spurious claims of cheating -through a massive conspiracy- were just too ridiculous to fall for.

So all isn’t lost, I have faith. I know there is so much work for us to do and I’m dedicated to the cause. And on top of that, Twitter memes and TikTok have been golden and keeping up my spirits. Gotta laugh to keep from crying right?

Anywho, this is a just another post where I’m in my feelings. I’m feeling good…feeling cautiously optimistic and ready to receive the goodness of the future of our country. We’re stepping into a new era of America. January 20th can’t come soon enough. How are y’all doing after this wild 2020 election? <3

-D. Wright

So it’s the first week of November, AND Election 2020. I’ve never, in all my life, had a week like this. *Fair warning, I have nothing profound to say. I’ve just seriously never had a week like this.

After witnessing folks all over the Instaworld break quarantine to dazzle one another in their fancy costumes and later brunch -as if tha ‘Rona was miraculously cured- in honor of the very-very (un)important holiday, Halloween…time fell back. So now, on top of possibly contagious people running around, we barely know where we are in the day.

What I do know is we’re on the FOURTH day of the most epic presidential election I’ve ever experienced in my voting history. It’s been worse than waiting for a Black Southern Baptist preacher to wrap up a sermon after his 5th ending. This thing seems to never end. Needless to say, the country is waiting on pins and needles with the news of who will be the future leader of this great ole ‘Murica.

I was planning on having a post up yesterday but to be honest the times are so got-dog-on wild, I couldn’t even focus. As a matter of fact, I took off this week because I knew I wouldn’t be able to focus. I had an inkling I was going to need a mental break to rest, and regroup -regardless of what the results were- plus my body gave me the signs of needing a break, so I listened. Now here I am- spending my 3rd day hanging with a dog who does zoomies like military drills, watching marathons of cheesy Christmas movies on Hallmark/Lifetime (because I’m a real adult in need of a healthy dose of reality), buying holiday decorations, and building my new bar cart all the while simultaneously watching the current president meltdown on global news and Twitter. It’s such a fascinating time to be a grown-up.

Americans are witnessing another historic and dramatic election, in real time, and through the lens of social media and news companies. I can’t even believe we’re awaiting 4 “battleground” states to seal our fate, and that Black & Latinx people are basically leading the charge. I feel like that deserves its own post right there. But anyway, fortunately for me, I’ve learned how to keep myself distracted and mentally balanced. I’m definitely nervous and worried about the repercussions of this election. It feels like many people are cautiously optimistic about the results but fearfully anticipating the actions of 45’s gun-toting, flag-waving pirate minions. We’ll see how it all plays out though.

In more important news- I’m just plotting for the future. I feel so inspired to have some type of creative outlet or business…or both. I want to feel that entrepreneurial freedom, ya know? And Black women are really inspiring me to just do it. Through seeing the results of this election come in and how different Black women are making names for themselves/leading in ways we could never imagine- they have me so ready to take my life to the next level. I’m just inspired to do things I didn’t think were possible. Wait…I guess I lied, I did have something profound to say. And that is- I’m finding a silver lining in the midst of the madness, and oh there is so much madness.

But how is your first week of November going? Are you getting ready for the holidays or just pushing through elections? <3

-D. Wright