‘Whitelash against a changing country,’ says Van Jones on Trump’s win

By Andrej Ivanov Staff Reporter Wed., Nov. 9, 2016

CNN’s political commentator Van Jones had a deeply emotional reaction shortly before President-elect Donald Trump was announced to have won, Wednesday night.

Jones choked up as he delivered a powerful statement, saying that electing Trump is a whitelash against a changing country and a black president. For people who don’t know, whitelash is a contraction of white backlash and is defined as “backlash from white racists against black civil rights.”

“You have people putting children to bed tonight and they are afraid of breakfast,” he said. Many people agreed on social media, voicing their own concerns regarding the new president.

Jones voiced the concerns of many when he said “we don’t want to feel that someone has been elected by throwing away some of us, to appeal more deeply to others.”

He pointed out a much deeper issue, as well: that political commentators had not, up until that point, talked about race. This resonates even further, in that it touches on the prevalent problem of racism in America.

Jones indirectly raised the question—with the various things Trump has said during the campaign—will discrimination be acceptable?

However, it’s important to note that in his victory speech Trump said “I pledge to every citizen of our land that I will be president for all Americans, and this is so important to me.” If this will assuage Jones’ concerns remains to be seen.

Jones’ work is not limited to that of a political commentator on CNN’s various programs and special events. He also founded many social enterprises in social and environmental justice. He authored two New York Times best-selling books in 2008 and 2012.

Jones’ website also mentions how, in 2009, he was policy advisor for green jobs to President Barack Obama. Jones was also awarded numerous awards, including “TIME Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in the World in 2009”

Here’s how various people on Twitter reacted to Van Jones’ statement:

Original Article in the Star: https://www.thestar.com/news/world/uselection/2016/11/09/whitelash-against-a-changing-country-says-van-jones-on-trumps-nightmare-win.html