Still We Rise

It has been five days since America elected Donald Trump to be our next president. The shock was apparent to all (I think that even Trump supporters were surprised by his win) and has caused a significant amount of debate across the country. But, if there is anything positive to be taken from the turmoil that the election has caused, I believe it is the passionate reactions of the people.

Messages of hope, love, and solidarity are everywhere. People are uniting together by expressing themselves with words, art, and music.
The Diag, which was once an empty canvas, has now become a vibrant visual representation of the student mentality in response to Trump’s win. Messages are written in different fonts, colors, sizes, and languages- all showing solidarity, hope, support, and unrest within the campus. “Estamos juntos,” “Still with Her,” “You belong here,” “You are loved,” “Love can still win,” “Hope must live,” and “Michigan Loves You,” are just some of the many chalk messages that have been left. The Diag represents the heart of campus and this is truer now than ever.
Around the country we are seeing peaceful protests, with chants calling for justice and tolerance: “Hey, hey, ho, ho, racism has got to go,” “My body my choice, her body her choice,” “We reject, the president elect,” “Si se puede.” The photographs and videos from these marches are powerful, showing an American that is standing against bigotry, racism, and hatred.
Artists around the world are expressing their discontent as well. Bastille, a British alternative band, has written a song called “The Currents,” inspired by Donald Trump and his rhetoric.
“I’m swimming to the surface
I’m coming up for air
Cause you’re making me feel nervous
I need to clear my head
I can’t believe my ears
I don’t wanna believe my ears
Swimming to the surface
Coming up for air
How can you think you’re serious?
Do you even know what year it is?
I can’t believe the scary points you make
Still living in the currents you create
Still sinking in the pool of your mistakes
Won’t you stop firing up the crazies?”

When performing the song on Wednesday, lead singer Dan Smith made an alteration to his lyrics:
“Won’t Trump stop firing up the crazies?”
The rhetoric that Donald Trump has been using really has fired some people up, as more and more incidents of hate and racism have occurred in the days following his win. Even on the Michigan campus a Muslim woman was forced to remove her hijab. The Rock, which is commonly painted by different student organizations, was vandalized with racist comments. Donald Trump’s win has validated and encouraged this behavior and resulted in a fearful America.
But this hateful behavior has not been condoned by this campus or this country.

When students learned about the rock, they immediately painted over it with messages of love and encouragement. When students learned about the woman who was attacked, groups were formed to offer assistance to people who were afraid to walk home alone. When Trump encouraged violence and hate, Americans protested with messages of love and inclusion.
A video of Maya Angelou has been circulating social media in the days since the election. In it, she recites her poem, “Still I Rise.” In the beginning she introduces the poem by saying,
“Everyone in the world has gone to bed one night or another with fear or pain or loss or disappointment. And yet each of us has awakened and risen, seen other humans and said ‘Morning, how are you? Fine, thanks. And you?’ It’s amazing. Wherever that abides in the human being there is the nobleness of the human spirited. Despite it all, black or white, Asian Spanish or Native American, pretty or plain, thin or fat, we rise.”
To the many of disappointed Americans who fear for their life in this country under a Trump presidency, this introduction is inspiring and encouraging. Her words are being spread online to empower people to keep rising, even in the face of hate. And that is what we have done and will continue to do. We will rise.