The Politics of Desire
The longing at the heart of White Women for Kamala
The divergent pursuits of my countrymen ensure that, as a journalist, I will never be without work. For this, I am ever-grateful, and boy do we have a curious chasm this week, with millions of Americans self-segregating by race as a means of coalescing power behind presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris.
I don’t expect that Harris, who is half-Jamaican, half-South Asian, has objections to the tidal wave of funds raised by White Women for Kamala ($8.5 million during one Zoom call last Thursday; there was another last night) and White Dudes for Kamala (which raised about $4 million during Monday night’s call); any port in a storm. And I do appreciate the frisson these groups are experiencing, how amazing it feels to come together for something we want to believe in. We see collective effervescence at concerts, in church, at sporting events; some of us experience it more than others, maybe need it more than others. The only time I was swept up in a communal moment was at a Portland Trail Blazers game. It was the game after this shot, which clinched the playoff series against Houston.
The scene at the Rose Garden two days later, in Game 1 against the Spurs, was insane, the pre-game screams so loud I thought the roof was going to blow off. I was near to levitating, indivisible from the 20,000+ fans pulsing in anticipation of glory… right before the Trail Blazers went on to stink up the arena, losing to San Antonio 92-116.
Is there a lesson here? Yes, one that will never be heeded or remembered during the full-body rush of what might be, the anticipation that drives love affairs, career risks and, god help us, the backing of politicians, which anyone who’s been through an election cycle or three should realize is a ratty pursuit.
And yet every four years, Americans do not realize this. They have Hope (™) and, in the current moment, are also seeking redemption, hundreds of thousands of white women (and men) lunging toward Harris as if their credibility as good citizens, as upholders of all that is right, or could be good and right, or maybe isn’t their place to say is good and right… but anyway, it’s all on the line! And they are not going to miss this time; are not going to let 47% of white women vote for Trump, as they did in 2016; 2024 is the year they will band together and persevere despite some big smackdowns in 2020, they will work through the lingering butt-hurt and paranoia about messing things up, however unintentionally.
Which brings me to the curious chasm…