Op-Ed: America Voted Against Progress, and My Granny Can’t Believe It

Disclaimer:
This article is an opinion piece. The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Baller Alert or its affiliates. 

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Growing up, I was close to my grandmother. She’s now 90 years old and has lived through everything—from Jim Crow to civil rights marches, to getting arrested for standing up for what’s right. This election, for the first time, she told me she’s afraid—for me, my children, and generations to come.

What scares her most is that people are voted against their own interests. She’s seen history repeat itself too many times. And one thing she always reminds me of is this: fighting is in our DNA. Black Americans, especially women, have always fought. But we’re also carrying the weight of trauma passed down through generations.

Slavery officially ended in 1865. That was only 160 years ago—not ancient history. And Dr. Joy DeGruy’s groundbreaking book Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome helps explain how that trauma has traveled across generations, shaping behaviors, health, and social dynamics that still affect us today.

I’ve taken so much from my grandmother. I see people on social media—sometimes even on Baller Alert—saying they’ll just “mind their business.” And while I cringe, I get it. We’re exhausted. We’re throwing those fans at cookouts, just trying to catch our breath and rest.

But still, Black women showed up. Again. 92% of us voted for policies that protect human rights. We voted to support LGBTQ+ rights, even if we’re not part of that community. We voted to protect access to health care, fight against voter suppression, and resist mass surveillance disguised as public safety even though they can’t “send us back to Africa”.

We know what discrimination looks like because we live it. We know what it feels like to work twice as hard just to be seen as average. So, when we see people choosing an unqualified candidate over someone who’s more than proven herself, it’s infuriating.

Let’s talk facts.

Donald Trump’s track record includes:

• Six business bankruptcies, including the Trump Taj Mahal and Trump Plaza Hotel

• Trump University, which was shut down and forced to pay $25 million in settlements for fraud

• The Trump Foundation, dissolved by court order for illegal activity

• Two impeachments while in office

• Multiple sexual assault allegations

• Found liable for defamation and sexual abuse of E. Jean Carroll

• And as of 2024, he is a convicted felon in the New York hush money case

Meanwhile, Kamala Harris has a career built on accomplishment:

• First Black and South Asian woman Vice President

• Former U.S. Senator from California, where she served on the Judiciary and Intelligence Committees

• California’s Attorney General, where she implemented criminal justice reform

• Championed legislation on maternal health, environmental justice, and worker protections

• Advocated for Dreamers, pushed for student debt relief, and led COVID-19 vaccine distribution efforts

So yes, I’m proud to say I listened to my granny. She’s been in this fight longer than most people have been alive. And her fear isn’t irrational—it’s rooted in experience.

Voting isn’t just about now. It’s about the future we’re building. And if my grandmother still has the strength to speak up, the least we can do is listen.