An email I received from a fellow named “Pedro” led to this co-authored piece, an exchange between Elwood Watson, PhD and yours truly.
“Pedro” wrote: “I read, reread – and will read again – your piece, “ Bad boys. Bad boys. Whatcha gonna do when they (Project 2025) come for you?,” the context of which if Trump returns to office. Hard as I tried, I just couldn’t shake the thought of the project’s plan to cut Social Security benefits given that my retired parents depend on their Social Security checks as their sole source of income. My hope is that you’ll consider publishing something on what actions folks can take if their preferred candidate loses the election.”
Now chances are that you will probably read this piece either before or maybe after the forthcoming election and, like millions, anxiously look forward to a time when we can finally return to some sense of normalcy, if there is such a thing.
But back to “Pedro’s” recommendation, I figured that if in fact you haven’t given much thought to what you’d do – or not do – if your candidate won or lost the election, you’d be interested in how Elwood Watson, PhD and I grappled with several election-related questions, specifically, as the title of this narrative asks, what to do if your candidate wins or loses?
Let’s first hear from Elwood:
Arguably, this year’s presidential election is one of the most consequential ones ever. So, what advice would you offer to those who are or will be either elated or disappointed with the results?
WATSON: I would remind all individuals who are able to vote that democracy is on the ballot! Yes, inflation is high at the moment, groceries are expensive, life for many people is indeed challenging. These realities aside, America has always been able to sustain itself and rebound and there is no reason to believe that the nation will be unable to do so again. Whatever problems you have with Vice President Harris or the Democratic Party in general, please acknowledge the fact that if Donald Trump wins the presidency next Project 2025 will be aggressively implemented as law. Democracy, as we currently know it, would be replaced with fascism by a wannabe dictator.
HOWARD: My advice is depending on the outcome, be sensitive to and careful with how you either celebrate or express your disappointment. It serves no one well if you “rub” the results in someone’s face if your person wins, nor is it wise to direct outrage towards others if your candidate doesn’t win.
How healthy is it to eternalize and suppress one’s emotions – glee or anger – to avoid conflicts with those with opposite emotions?
HOWARD: Great question. The rational side of me is to suggest that before anything comes out of our mouths, maybe we should run our potential response through a “will what I’m about to say help or hurt” mental software. Some are good at this but in all honesty I’m not. So controlled emotions – or even total silence – may be the best course of action while the new political reality settles in for us.
WATSON: Personally, I think that it is healthy to engage with people who have different viewpoints. To me it demonstrates a degree of maturity and open-mindedness that any reasonable human being should have. In fact, in my course, I often have students read opposing viewpoints about a topic. To be sure, there are people you are not going to agree with or persuade them to see things your way. However, as long as the conversation does not devolve into personal insults or name calling, debate can be healthy. In some cases, you can learn something that may prompt you to reconsider previous viewpoints. My motto is “let us agree to disagree.”
How can we keep ourselves and members of our family physically safe in the election’s aftermath?
WATSON: This is a valid concern. As someone who considers themselves politically progressive, I also believe in the right to bear arms. I am under no illusion that there are a number of Trump supporters who will not hesitate to resort to violence if Trump is defeated. Thus, I would encourage everyone to arm themselves. Donald Trump has relayed all sorts of message subtle and not so subtle to his supporters to consider resorting to violence if Kamala Harris and Governor Tim Walz are elected President elect and Vice President. We have to be ready to effectively combat a situation should such an even duplicative to January 6tth should such an event arise.
HOWARD: Given the situation and range of personalities I want to tread carefully on any advice I’d offer. But at a minimum my advice is to immediately remove any posters, banners, bumper stickers, baseball caps, tee shirts, etc., that convey who you voted for to avoid situations where frustrations could spill over into destructive behaviors. I consider the period between November 6 and inauguration day 2025 as a time when emotions are raw. It may mean avoiding large public gatherings, especially those where alcohol is served. Plus, during these days when participating in social media is so widespread, I’d say be extra care about what you post. We can all learn to control our reactions to circumstances no matter how difficult they are.
Given the fact that friends – or even family members – may prefer a different candidate, how should we talk about those differences in the aftermath of the election, or should we avoid those conversations altogether?
WATSON: We should address such political perspectives candidly, yet respectively. Some people are so impervious in their viewpoints that persuading them to adhere to your perspective is a futile effort. With some people, in particular older relatives who are set in their ways, it is probably best to avoid conversations that could implode into confrontation. As the old folks used to say, “sometimes it is best to let sleeping dogs lie.”
HOWARD: Chances are that we either know or have a suspicion about where family members are on political issues based on casual comments, their social interactions and the source of their news. Now to be honest, I tried to start a conversation recently with what I know now was a poor choice of words with a family member whose politics made me cringe. We both raised our voices and doggedly dug in with our positions. It didn’t end well. I learned my lesson. So yes, to Elwood’s advice, “sometimes it’s best to let sleeping dogs lie.”
What will the results of this election suggest to us about ourselves and our nation?
WATSON: Oh my goodness! Where do I begin? It largely depends upon the results of the election. If Vice President Harris is successful in achieving victory, it will demonstrate that there are enough Americans who understood the dangers that Trump represents to American democracy, our constitution, the nation and the larger world. If Trump is re-elected, it will be a referendum of on American attitudes and the strong undercurrent of vehement racism, anti-Semitism, sexism, homophobia, xenophobia, etc., that has always existed in below the surface and has finally been successfully politically ratified. Time will tell us very soon.
HOWARD: To be honest, the fact that the two candidates are neck in neck in the race is astonishing and downright scary given the hateful vitriol – “they’re poisoning the earth,” “they’re eating cats and dogs in Springfield,” “Puerto Rico is a floating island of garbage,” being mouthed by minions in one party. We should ask ourselves if the behaviors were reversed would the race be that close?
So yes, my faith in the principles of democracy has been shakened. But in the end, we should tolerate nothing short of the time-honored tradition in our nation, the peaceful transfer of power. I thought about this tradition recently while attending a local high school football game. At the end of the game both teams, winners and losers, walked across the field and shook hands with each other. Mu point is that there was not a scintilla of folks rolling out of the stands yelling “hang the refs” or steamrolling the security guards because the game was “rigged” and “stolen.” No, what I witnessed was a peaceful transfer of an acknowledgement of a hard fought “congratulations, you won” from the vanquished to victors.
In the end, the undeniable reality is that there are a few things we can be sure of once this election is over with, among them that the sun will continue to rise, the bills won’t stop coming in and we’ll continue to exist on the same planet and breathe the same air with each other. So, the question we’re left with is what will post election interactions and conversations look like? Will we continue to look askance and warily at each other while avoiding talking honestly about the proverbial “elephant in the room”? However, if we set aside our emotions, what possibilities could possibly exist on the other side that could make us a better nation, to get us all on the same page in redefining the true meaning of a nation that embodies true democracy.
Only time will tell!
Elwood Watson Ph.D. is a professor of History, Black Studies and Gender and Sexuality Studies at East Tennessee State University. He is a cultural critic, syndicated columnist and author of the book, Keepin’ It Real: Essays on Race in ContemporaryAmerica. https://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/distributed/K/bo40060337.html (University of Chicago Press)
Terry Howard is an award-winning writer and storyteller, a contributing writer with the Chattanooga News Chronicle, The Douglas County Sentinel, The American Diversity Report, The BlackMarket.com and recipient of the Dr. Martin Luther King Leadership Award.