Rainbow Drive
“Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that. Hate multiplies hate, violence multiplies violence, and toughness multiplies toughness in a descending spiral of destruction. So when Jesus says “Love your enemies,” he is setting forth a profound and ultimately inescapable admonition. Have we not come to such an impasse in the modern world that we must love our enemies– or else? The chain reaction of evil–hate begetting hate, wars producing wars–must be broken, or we shall be plunged into the dark abyss of annihilation.”
— Martin Luther King Jr., Strength to Love
To speak in the vernacular of my ancestors, “Phew! Chile…”
This has been weighing on me for quite some time, and today felt like the perfect time to finally write about it. I had to leave my apartment because it’s being sprayed for spiders. (No, I don’t know what kind. I just know they ain’t supposed to be there. They have a whole outside.) So now, I’m sitting in a quaint coffee shop in my small-town-type area, sipping a pistachio latte, looking at this raspberry turkey panini I know I won’t eat until I’m done writing. I guess it’s here if I need it, right?
And before you knock my raspberry turkey panini — maybe try it first.
Anyway, while driving here, I had my iPod on shuffle. (Yes, my iPod. Plugged into a USB port in my car like it’s 2006. Not one of those FM transmitters — I’m fancy now.) Then one of my favorite songs from Blaque’s first album came on. The song is called “Rainbow Drive,” and it’s about unity and getting along with your neighbor. A concept that seems long lost in this particular timeline.
But I suppose the timeline for fighting racism has been significantly shorter than the centuries of racism that have plagued this country. And the current climate? It's truly tearing a hole in my heart.
And I know — it’s not just here.
War crimes in Ukraine and Gaza.
Anti-immigrant sentiment growing in Europe.
Colorism in Asian nations where Muslim populations are being mistreated by their own governments.
Civil wars raging in Africa…
The world is a ghetto right now.
Alexa, play “Rainbow Drive” by Blaque…
“People all over the world. Let’s come together. We need some unity and peace among one another[…] You release your fears and bring your mind to my point of view…”
There’s a lot to unpack. Honestly, I don’t think I’ve had a good night’s sleep since January 19th. I’ve been in disbelief that so many people are okay with racism, chaos, and the destruction of our democracy — just because of the “promise” of cheaper groceries that still haven’t materialized.
The man offered no specifics. Just blamed everything on immigrants… and people bought that?
Well, he was specific about tariffs — his “beautiful” word — which are now making everything more expensive. Tariffs are paid by the importing countries, which means us, the consumers. I was in the grocery store recently when a lady was loudly complaining about the price of watermelons. I looked it up. Turns out, a large portion of our watermelon supply is imported from Mexico and Central American countries like Guatemala and Honduras — because our domestic supply alone can’t keep up with demand.
I didn’t have the heart to tell that woman those tariffs would follow her to whatever store she went to next.
Let’s just assume she’s having the day she voted for.
He was also very specific about the racism — and the racial profiling — that’s happening with these mass deportations. What always baffles me is how descendants of immigrants from Europe are the ones with the biggest problem with immigration.
Even the Statue of Liberty is an immigrant. From France.
At this point, I’m honestly surprised she hasn’t gotten up and walked back across the Atlantic.
So many people cheering the cruelty happening to immigrants of color seem to forget the sonnet inscribed on the pedestal of Lady Liberty:
"Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.”
— Emma Lazarus, “The New Colossus”
It does not say:
"Unless they’re Black, brown, or yellow."
What’s even sadder? The fact that so many so-called Christians are cheering this on. Wearing crosses around their necks, spewing hatred at every turn. Jesus taught us to love our neighbors. I know He is tired of the morally bankrupt calling themselves His followers.
Much like I’m tired of people who cheer on fascism calling themselves “patriots.” They really believe it is their patriotic duty to be racist.
Unfortunately for them — it’s costing all of us.
These mass deportations? They’re terrifying immigrant laborers in agriculture. They’re skipping work out of fear. Construction companies can’t find enough workers. Meanwhile, tariffs are making construction materials more expensive. Lack of labor to build and more expensive building materials will make housing costs increase.
But sure — you think they’re going to hire American workers to do backbreaking labor, for little money and no benefits? Be serious.
Immigration built this nation.
Well, that and imported labor — aka slavery — because the colonizers didn’t want to do the work.
They still don’t.
And they don’t want the people who will do it here, either.
Is it just me, or does racism not even make sense?
It’s not only cruel — it’s expensive. People are already complaining about the consequences they voted for: inflated prices, slower job growth, and a national debt growing by trillions just to get rid of the workers who literally keep the economy running.
Economists warned us.
Just like scientists and virologists warned us about COVID.
Just like historians warned us about the rise of authoritarianism.
There must be something in the water (and yes, I know RFK Jr. is trying to take the fluoride out of it) — because we’ve collectively stopped listening to people who actually know things.
I guess a lot of folks thought they’d be exempt from the consequences of their vote.
That level of egotism is truly something else.
“Egotism is the anaesthetic that dulls the pain of stupidity.”
— Frank Leahy
About 37% of the U.S. seems to be numb.
“Love and peace on earth. We gotta make it work.
If we come together, I promise it’ll be worth the ride.
New heights we’ll climb. Our time is too short.
We’ve gotta live our lives…”
The worst part? All of this could’ve been avoided — if certain people were just okay coexisting. But no — the hatred of LGBTQ folks, people of color, and books (of all things) is so strong that they were willing to burn it all down.
Before anyone comes at me with “We’re not a Democracy, we’re a Constitutional Republic” to try and sound smart — please know:
A Constitutional Republic is a form of Democracy.
Thanks.
Meanwhile, war crimes continue in Ukraine and Gaza.
The U.S.’s global standing is being downgraded.
Programs like USAID are being gutted.
AIDS research is being obliterated.
And now, the CDC’s website reads like a political manifesto because “we disagree with the idea that people can be gender fluid” or whatever nonsense they’re spewing.
Remember when the leader of the free world said back in 2020:
“If you don’t test, then there’s no COVID”?
Yeah.
Now imagine what that mindset is doing to AIDS, cancer, and every other public health issue.
This isn’t an attack on the people who were misled —
It’s a reminder that willful ignorance and racism led us to this moment.
I wrote this in hopes of building a more perfect union —
A union rooted in actual unity. Because we've now seen what division gets us.
I wish I could be exempt from what I didn’t vote for.
But that’s not how this works.
Whether we like it or not — we’re all in this together.
And unfortunately, we all got an F on this group project because some people didn’t participate, and others used Wikipedia as a source.
You’ve seen how those Republican town halls are going.
Their constituents have found out the hard truth:
Everyone can get it.
“We gotta live together. We gotta come together.
When we do unto the others, we pay.
It might change your life when you understand
That you’re only a shade away…”
Maybe one day, we can all get to Rainbow Drive —
And this will never happen again.
I’m cautiously optimistic. Because history tells us:
Life is better for everyone when racism stays under the rock it belongs under.
And despite what the man with the eyeliner said —
Diversity and inclusivity are our strengths.
White people certainly didn’t fight the Revolutionary War or any other war on their own.
And I’ll stop just short of a full diatribe on the erasure of Black history —
(I can feel your eyes glazing over.)
But maybe look up Crispus Attucks, the first casualty in the Revolutionary War while you’re washing clothes with an invention created by an African American. Or when you’re sitting at a traffic light — also created by a Black man.
We all make this country function.
It’s time we start acting like it.
United we stand. Divided we fall.
“Let’s get to Rainbow Drive.
Everybody come together and just feel the vibe…”