The White (Supremacy) House

Imagine a nation in which one race owns the majority of the land, majority of the wealth, and are less likely to be murdered. Imagine that in this nation, the average household income of one race was ten times greater than that of another. Now imagine there is a second country. This country is the richest in the world. Now let’s say the richest country in the world started a narrative that the other nation’s dominant race was being oppressed and genocide was being committed on them. The claim seems arbitrary, right? Unfortunately, this is a reality we are living here in the United States of America.

The Trump administration let in their first refugees this past week. White South Africans. These are the only refugees the Trump administration has let in. The move is only the latest in the chronicle of Trump’s blatantly racial biases.

First thing, let’s establish that there is no “white genocide” happening in South Africa as the Trump administration says. Yes, there are a substantial number of white people who are murdered in the nation, and yes, they are a minority, making up 10–15 percent of the country. But just because they are a minority does not mean they are oppressed. Black people are still more likely to be killed. Additionally, the economic disparities between Black and white South Africans are substantial. Despite making up 10–15% of the population, white South Africans own 85% of both the country’s land and wealth, and as stated earlier, the average white household is 10 times richer than a Black family. This is objectively not a genocide.

The narrative is yet another example of Trump’s racism towards immigrants of color. He ended asylum for refugees, meaning people who were being forced out of their country could not come to the United States. The United States is no longer a place welcoming to foreigners in need (unless you’re white). Let’s not forget in 2016 Donald Trump put forth a Muslim ban, banning immigrants from Muslim-dominated countries citing that he was “protecting the US from terrorism.” Let’s not forget Trump said that Hispanic countries “are sending rapists and murderers.” There is no credible evidence that Hispanic immigrants commit more crimes than US citizens—in fact, many studies indicate they commit less crime.

He speaks only of the southern border, but the United States’ northern border is the largest unprotected border in the world. But that does not concern him because Canadians are predominantly white. Let’s not forget that he asked why we weren’t getting more immigrants from European countries such as Germany. Let’s not forget he told Black communities to vote for him because “what do you have to lose.” Let’s not forget the first thing the Trump Organization got in trouble for was discriminating against Black people. Now, he is using the “Alien Enemy Act” to deport immigrants without due process. This is the same act that was used under Franklin D. Roosevelt to create the Japanese Internment Camps.

Let’s understand that this administration is clearly giving white people a privilege. Let’s understand that Trump has normalized scapegoating immigrants as justification for Americans’ shortcomings, blaming them for taking the jobs and using up all of the United States’ programs. Now he is falsely saying that white people are discriminated against in South Africa, and soon he hopes to turn that rhetoric to America. It’s time to realize: Donald Trump resides in the White Supremacy House.