In a recording leaked this week, we heard racism and bigotry from some of Los Angeles’ most powerful leaders.1 We also heard them stoking a divide between the city’s communities.
First, I want to say that the comments that were made are simply incompatible with holding elected office. It violates the public trust. Point blank. That’s the beginning and the end of it.
But I also want to dig a little bit deeper into the psychology of these comments. Because it’s just as bad, if not worse.
In corrupt, racist, and classist environments or political situations, people in power rely on pitting communities against each other — whether it’s racially, geographically, or otherwise.
They rely on trying to get Black, Latino, Asian, Native, white, rural, and urban communities to see each other as enemies.
Leaders who fall for this are not equipped to lead. This scarcity mentality — that we need to be suspicious of other ethnic groups or of other types of interest groups — comes from the top.
Because the more these “leaders” can stoke fighting amongst ourselves, the more they can keep us from building solidarity with each other. This is dangerous.
People in power rely on dividing us to ensure that nothing changes. This is not unique to Los Angeles — we experience it in New York. One of the reasons I hated electoral politics was because I got sick of people claiming they represented me or where I’m from only to get caught betraying our community.
We need to be able to trust each other and stick together. If we don’t trust each other, we’re not able to build solidarity with each other.
Thank you for reading.
Alexandria
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