Jackson Free Press

Upon reading an article that author David Edwards wrote about an interview on CNN where host Soledad O'Brien had a few things to say about the network "profiting off the hate speech that has fueled Donald Trump's political rise," I began to think.

The article talks much about how Mr. Trump is allowing space for those who believe in white supremacy to discuss their beliefs and their political views. Now, as a woman of African descent, you would think that this would make me angry.

It doesn't, and here's why.

America is sick and has been for quite some time. It started with how we first acquired this land we call our great nation, and secondly, how we've built upon it. In my opinion, this idea of "normalizing white supremacy" is a farce. Being an African American raised in Mississippi, white people have always seemed to have it better. Is that not the normal experience of anyone not white in America?

But here's the thing: As time has gone on, groups of women and men of various backgrounds have seen the need to push beyond those walls. For African Americans: the right to do things like eat and sleep where everyone else does. For women: the right to vote, to masturbate, to have an abortion. For the LGBT community: the right to marry and dilly whomever's dally we choose and not have to dress a certain way to do it.

With all these leaps and bounds we've made cross-culturally, there's always been something else to fix. But with any problem or with any group, we had to listen to each group in order to find an effective solution.

Now, when discussing and referring to white supremacy, I believe many of you are watching for the parallels between Mr. Trump and one Adolf Hitler. There may be quite a few. I am not alarmed by this.

"Why?" you ask. Everything is not always as it seems. I am unclear as to the foresight or the trajectory in which this train is heading, but in reading this article with an open mind, I thought that with healing this nation, the United States of America, it's bound to get nasty. Just think of those disgusting videos of irrigating ear canals or popping one of those gnarly back zits. I view a lot of what is happening as simply bringing the infection to the surface so that we can actually clean the wound. Yes, this process must be monitored closely, as things could go in an even unhealthier direction, causing more damage than healing, but it needs to happen either way.

I suggest removing some of the emotional attachment and fears we have about the proverbial "state of things" and ask ourselves, "What can we do to help?"

Invariably, the unfounded beliefs that have created much of this problem will have to come to the surface. If they do not come to light, how else are we to fix it? What we presently have is what we've gotten thus far, with just relegating people with those beliefs as lesser. This has to get worse before it gets better, and I say that only because there are a lot of hurt feelings and misunderstandings that must be side-stepped in order to get this done (the healing of our country, not just this election).

The article complained about "these people" being brought to the table, but honestly, it's the first time I've seen us all here.

It may be the last supper, but at least everyone is in attendance.

Katherine E. Day, an author, filmmaker and designer, is native to Mississippi. She loves traveling, adventures and gardening.