by
Black Girl With Long Hair
In times of trouble, many Americans look to Oprah for wisdom and comfort. But some felt they did not find it when, after Donald Trump’s election, the media tycoon posted an image of Trump meeting with President Barack Obama at the White House and the caption “Everybody take a deep breath! #HopeLives!”
While we can understand Oprah encouraging her audience to remain calm, the reality is that there is reason for real worry and panic. Trump is busy stocking his White House transition team with climate change deniers, immigration hardliners and Nazi-backed officials. In the face of such evil, a picture of the two men having a seemingly calm conversation in the White House is no real indication of hope.
And Oprah’s fans were quick to tell her so.
https://twitter.com/KeoNozari/status/796808952419909633
https://twitter.com/survivorvoice/status/796809139301261312
Oprah later clarified her comments, stating that she saw Trump and Obama’s meeting as a hopeful moment.
“I couldn’t breathe after the election,” she said. “I was expecting tension, awkwardness, and strain … so when I saw them sitting together, I actually took a picture of the screen that said ‘President-elect Trump honored to meet Obama.’ And President Obama was being so gracious, and I heard Donald Trump say, ‘He’s a good man.’ I heard Donald Trump say, ‘I’m going to be seeking his counsel.’ I literally went [deep breath], ‘I can breathe now.’”
Um… I get what Oprah is saying but the fact that Trump called Obama a “good man” (after exploiting the ‘birther’ lie to win millions of voters) is no indication that his policies won’t plunge the country into civil unrest and deepen economic inequality. Sure it might be time to breathe, but it’s also time to fight and resist.
What do you think ladies? Was Oprah’s dragging unfair? Or was it justified?
8 Responses
So, lemme get this straight: Twitter spends its time dragging Oprah for saying #HopeLives? Um, okay. Another example of doing the most w/ the least. Maybe take that energy, GTFO Twitter get OUT into the community and instead channel it into actually strategizing & planning long-term for our benefit? No, THAT would be too logical, I guess. Let’s instead attack Oprah for having the audacity to still HOPE. Because without that, what the hell is fighting & resisting going to do, anyway? I have an idea: Let’s ask our ancestors about that, because they know WAY more about hope in the face of WAAAAY worse than this mess than our generation could ever conceive.
Ok, everybody panic, run around like headless chickens, scream, cry, slam your fist into walls, run into the street shouting THE END IS NIGH!!! Come home, beat your head against the wall, withdraw all your savings, bite your nails down to the nub, beat your chest, wail, wail, wail, let the snot fly, the tears fall and pull your hair out! Feel better? Good. ‘Cause guess what? Trump is still president-elect! Were you able to think of a plan of escape when you were freaking out? No? Then maybe you should calm down and consider your options with a level head. If you can’t believe in hope, there’s always suicide.
She’s a billionaire with no worries; what about those of us who don’t have the means to escape the wrath of the beast.
Oprah’s been cut off from the real world for too long.
I’m sure Oprah has seen far worse in her lifetime then you’ve seen in yours. Ya’ll act like she comes from money.
Only time will time will tell what will happen, breathing easy isn’t one of them.
Oprah is out of touch, clearly! Her class and privileged has changed her and NOT for the better. She don’t give a crap what we’re (black and brown) going through. O and Gayle and good.
She is so out of touch. Yes, she deserved that drag. She won’t be affected because she’s a billionaire. And she can’t be that naive. Does she really think Trump meant that mess about Obama being a “good man”? They are both were being polite for the camera. Looks like she’s been living in her bubble for way too long