How did Donald Trump manipulate racism to win his election in a democratic country? White Americans used to think they were superior and privileged, when they had economic stability and they owned the social safety net and education for their future. However, they lost confidence in their identity since they lost job opportunities and the economy declined. I believe Trump’s words triggered racist perspectives towards economics and politics in the election that targets blame on immigrants. This racism is prevalent in American culture, and the main reason why the nation is divided.
According to Hannah-Jones’ article “The End of the Post-Racial Myth”, the author talks about why rural white voters flipped to Republican. In 2008, it was the first time Americans voted for an African American to be their president: Barack Obama. (Hannah-Jones, 1) This transformative outcome made people believe that the US was turned away from its racial past and eliminated the racial …show more content…
(Taub, 4) Trump voters feel threaten about American Dream is almost drifting out, and rural dwellers believe they have no money, no power, and no respect in their life. At the same time, Trump speaks for their concerns, anxieties of economics and lack of job opportunities, and Trump makes his voters trust him that he will reverse the situation: allowing people to get what they deserve. (Guo, 2) American culture reflects how Trump voters or most Americans have prejudiced view of the society, especially races. Donald Trump won the Republican nomination, because he provoked racism in his speech and negative campaign based on hatred and fear. Thus, people hesitated about their future and their jobs. And so on, Trump manipulated people’s fear in order to turn voters’ hatred on immigrants, and blame on immigrant population in the society. Trump voters bolstered their racist perspectives due to their resentment on loss of hope. Sharing a high level of racial resentment by not only job opportunities, but also loss of privileges. It is hard to unify under Trump’s presidency due to racial inequality; the way racism was triggered in the society makes American culture