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On the same day Trump made his attack against Vice President Kamala Harris at the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) event, labeling her as unintelligible and questioning her racial identity, I, a Gen Z, was at the Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Boule in Houston, Texas, listening to Vice President Harris address our sorority. Her words were resolute and inspiring: “We are not going back.”
As I stood among my sorority sisters, moved by the Vice President’s steadfastness, I felt the weight of this moment. Looking around at this sea of powerful Black women, I realized that the responsibility to once and for all break down and destroy this system where powerful White men use race and ethnicity to protect their power rests with us—the next generation of Americans, starting with Gen Z.
Throughout American history, race has been a tool wielded by those in power to define, control, and dehumanize segments of our society. From the codification of slavery to the Jim Crow laws and beyond, racial identity was manipulated to uphold a system of oppression. This historical reality continues to echo in today’s political landscape, where individuals like former President Trump seek to dictate who can claim certain racial identities.
Trump’s attack, supported by his vice presidential nominee Senator JD Vance, sends a clear signal to Gen Z: Our existence as the most diverse generation America has ever had, the first majority-minority generation, is perceived as a threat to the traditional power structures in our society.
For an America that has enforced the one-drop rule, to have those very same power structures now try to twist racial identity to further their agenda by telling a Black woman and Black people what it means to be “Black” in America is unacceptable and will never be accepted by our generation.
Gen Z is a mosaic of cultures, races, and ethnicities, with a significant portion of Gen Z identifying as multiracial. This diversity is our strength, and it equips us with a unique perspective on issues of race and identity. We understand that identity is complex and cannot be neatly categorized or controlled by outdated, monolithic viewpoints. My own ethnic background is a testament to this complexity.
My mother is Black, with ancestors who were kidnapped and forcibly brought to the United States enslaved. My father, considered “White” by American standards, has German, Irish, and British ancestry.
I am very aware of the complexity of my ancestry, being a descendant of both those who endured the American nightmare of slavery and those who sought the American Dream as they entered Ellis Island.
Most importantly, as a Gen Z, I embrace my identity as a Black woman. I navigate the world with pride, standing on the shoulders of the powerful Black women who came before me, including those of my sorority, Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Inc. Hence, it is crucial for me and others to embrace the complexities of our backgrounds and be strong in who we are, recognizing the intersectionality that shapes our experiences.
In attacking Vice President Harris, Trump and his supporters are not just questioning her identity; they are attempting to undermine the legitimacy of an entire generation’s experience on race. This is not merely a political maneuver; it is a direct attack on the ability of a new and diverse generation of Americans to finally bring an end to the racism in our society.
Not sure that is the case? Just see how Trump’s use of racially charged language, calling Vice President Harris “low IQ” and “dumb,” are revivals of dog whistles that perpetuate harmful and racist stereotypes.
Senator Vance, Trump’s running mate, defended Trump’s remarks about Vice President Harris’ race, describing them as “totally reasonable” and accusing Harris of being a “chameleon” who changes her identity based on her audience.
Vance, who has three biracial children, dismissed concerns about Trump’s comments, emphasizing that they did not give him pause. This hypocrisy underscores the broader attempt to invalidate multiracial identities while exploiting them for political gain.
Gen Z is acutely aware of the historical context of race in America. We have grown up in a time where conversations about race, equality, and justice are at the forefront of national discourse. We have seen the impact of systemic racism and have witnessed both the progress and the setbacks in the fight for racial equality. Our generation is committed to pushing forward, not allowing the regressive attitudes of a few to dictate the future for many.
It is clear by President Trump’s remarks and Senator Vance’s eager embrace of those remarks that they will continue to use race in the historical context as a weapon to be wielded for their own personal political gain. For Gen Z, racial identity is a deeply personal and multifaceted aspect of who we are. We reject any and all attempts to continue using all forms of racism as tools to dehumanize and delegitimize certain groups of Americans.
Let’s be clear to former President Trump and Senator Vance: Gen Z has never been there, and we will never accept the attempts by older generations to impose their racist views of the world on our future. We are ready to lead our nation in a new direction where hate and racism are rejected. This attempt to deliberately harm groups of people based on race and ethnicity is unacceptable, and we stand united in our commitment to a future where such tactics are rendered powerless.
I truly enjoyed reading this wonderful article. I am so excited about it. I say AMEN to it but I plan to send it out to my DIVA girls and family memeber and ask them to do the same to other people.
I did not get to finished, but know this, I really did enjoy reading your words and learning about the many Gens. I am 73 now, but your words stimulated my passion. I will love to read more…. (Thanks, very refreshing)