Mustafa Santiago Ali
Dr. Mustafa Santiago Ali is the Executive Vice President of Conservation & Justice for the National Wildlife Federation (NWF), former Interim Chief of Programs at the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS), and Instructor at American University. He is the Founder and CEO of Revitalization Strategies. He also serves as a commissioner for The American Academy of Arts and Sciences (AAAS). He is an award-winning writer and poet focused on social justice. Dr. Ali is frequently seen on television, including appearances on MSNBC, ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, VICE, FUSE, BET, National Geographic, Full Frontal with Samantha Bee, and Democracy NOW! Mustafa is also a regular guest on Roland Martin Unfiltered, Black News Channel, Tavis Smiley Show, The Dean Obeidallah Show, and many others…
Editor's Note: This poem is the seventh in our Democracy and Peril Series. This series will highlight the threats and challenges to our Democracy using various genres including poems, interviews, short stories, and articles about political events.
My grandmother says, “Let a snake in, you’re bound to get bit.” I ask, “What could Trump teach us about himself that we don’t already know? He hates Black folks, never respected Black folks, only calls our name when it fattens his pockets.” Here are some receipts, in case you’ve forgotten his true colors, before you hand him a platform to speak on us:
Trump’s Project 2025 aims to break Black futures, siphon wealth, slash rights, cut lives short—
He's been guilty of denying homes to Black families, violating the Fair Housing Act, like a thief of shelter.
He called for the lynching of the Central Park 5, no apology to this day, the echo of hate lingering.
Trump harassed Black Georgia election workers, Wandrea "Shaye" Moss and her mother Ruby Freeman, their lives now shadowed by danger.
He told four minority congresswomen to “go back”, words sharp as a deportation order.
Trump’s sharpened his tongue against Black journalists— Yamiche Alcindor, April Ryan, Don Lemon, and so many others, cut down for daring to speak truth, for wearing their skin with pride, and uplifting our communities.
He birthed the lie of Obama’s birthplace, a wound reopened with Kamala’s name.
He doubted Obama’s intellect, smeared the legacy of Harvard, Columbia.
He called African nations “$hit hole countries,” wanting only white Icelandic smiles at the border.
He’s retweeted, endorsed Neo-Nazis, white supremacists, the stench of hate on his fingertips.
His Covid denialism, a plague, killing hundreds of thousands, poor Black/Latino bodies the heaviest toll.
He tear-gassed peaceful D.C. protests after George Floyd’s murder, justice suffocated under a cloud of smoke.
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