Voting rights in no way were as restricted in 2016 as they are now. Very few people who wanted to vote were unable to do so. Everybody and they mama went to the polls in 2008 to vote for Barack Obama. Since he was already in office in 2010, we figured we had done our job, so we didn't bother to vote. We lost the House by dozens. Barack Obama was up for re-election iin 2012, and once again, everybody hied themselves to the polls. Not having learned the lesson in 2010, they stayed home in 2014, and we lost the Senate. LOSING THE SENATE IN 2014 IS WHAT ENABLED MITCH MCCONNELL TO REBUFF MERRICK GARLAND.

I don't care if black people weren't "enthused" by Hillary Clinton. I'm not always enthused about exercising or eating my vegetables, but I do it because I know it's good for me. I vote, not because I'm in love with a candidate or I'm "enthused," but because it's a strategic move.

So, do I put some responsibility on black people for not showing up in 2016? I sure as hell do. The fact is, we would not have had to live through four years of Donald Trump and his hatred, and we sure wouldn't be living through the results of his ability to appoint three racist Supreme Court justices.

If I know that "Bubba" and "Karen" are voting, and I know they're voting against my interests, then I'm darn sure getting my butt out to vote. Are there hurdles? Yep. Can I beat the hurdles with knowledge and action? I sure can.

We stand in line for sneakers, concert tickets, and fancy phones, and those things are transitory and cost money. Surely we can stand in line for that which determines our destiny. Yes, we have oppressors, but when we do nothing and let the oppressors walk in the front door, then we share the blame.

Do I sound old and scoldy? I sure do. I'm old enough, however, to remember when it was a lot tougher to vote than it is now. People got killed for trying. So, I reject YOUR narrative. I blame the black folks who stayed home as much as I blame the white folks who stayed home and the ones who didn't get Bernie and decided to teach Democrats "a lesson." We learned a lesson, all right. The lesson was that if the other side shows up for the battle, then our side had better show up too. So, if you didn't show up and vote for Clinton in 2016 and you're complaining now, shut up. You don't dismantle white supremacy by doing nothing. You use every tool you have. Here endeth the lesson.