<img src="http://madamenoire.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/ezgif.com-e6a53a310f.png" alt="Van Jones" width="1068" height="600" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-785114" />
Van Jones is the ultimate #boss political commentator and <a href="http://madamenoire.com/725246/van-jones-says-thinking-saying-election-whitelash/">completely described the anger, hurt, and confusion</a> I felt after witnessing the recent presidential election results with his highly controversial phrase "whitelash." His remarks accurately depicted our nation's political climate and opened the eyes of many Americans who often ignore the racial and political tensions we face as a society (i.e. #AllLivesMatter.)
On today's episode of "The Real," Van Jones spoke about the importance of women in the fight for equality and how as a society we should be more aware of each other's experiences.
<blockquote>Adrienne: What kind of role do you think women can play in bringing about change?
Van: Well, ya know, women are the backbone of resistance. That's just the reality. [...] 96% of African American women voted against Donald Trump and voted for Hillary Clinton that gives you a sense that women have different views, especially women of color. It's so hard though to be a woman, to be a woman of color, you have to deal with racism, you have to deal with sexism, you have to take care of yourself and then educate everybody else--it's tiresome. And yet, it's unjust and unfair, but it's necessary because basically White, Republican guys are not going to be able to lead us to freedom, they don't know the whole history that you have to learn as women of color. And so even though it's tiresome I was so proud to see so many women come out and say, you know what we are ready to be even more involved."</blockquote>
Van's comments are commendable because we sometimes find that men, including Black men, are not supportive or protective of Black women. It seems the wave of <a href="http://madamenoire.com/785058/what-happened-when-a-white-lady-tried-to-piss-on-kofi-siriboes-celebration-of-his-black-mother/">Black men caping</a> for us is gaining momentum.
One problematic aspect of the interview is with Jeannie Mai's next line of questioning. As a daughter of Vietnamese refugees raised in the San Francisco Bay Area and a woman in an interracial marriage, she confused me when she asked, "So when you said, White, Republican guys--do you really mean all White, Republican guys in that way?"
Yes, we know Jeannie is married to a white man and perhaps he doesn't fit the stereotypical white privilege mode, but Van's response completely hits it on the nose regarding why we need to be in touch with everyone's experiences and recognize where we are lacking.
<blockquote>Van: What I am observing is that we don't have a diverse country. We have bubbles that touch. And so if you are in certain communities there are certain things you can only learn in those communities.</blockquote>
What are your thoughts on Van Jone's support of WOC?
Catch the segment below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IRKsMNXb5YY
<em>Quindara Lazenbury is the definition of #bosslady with the woes of adulthood to keep the ball rolling. Writer and aspiring techie by profession. Follow her @wholefully_q</em>
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