2020 Election Judges; Experiences and Uncomfortable Conversations

This year I have struggled to find employment in my field. So while job hunting, I have worked as an Enumerator with the US Census Bureau and this past Tuesday, as a Chicago Election Judge. My purpose is to advocate, be apart of our political process, to educate, and most importantly be educated. While working, I have had conversations where I, the white millennial lady, left thinking “Damn, was I a Becky? Did I just Karen?” I know, as a women, that mansplaining is more then just annoying. It’s a put down, it’s rude, and the individual doing the ‘splaining thinks less of my intelligence. And yes, it’s more.

What is the name for mansplaining? Micro aggression and the experience I am thinking of (Karen/Becky) racial micro aggression.

This year, I have met many white women who have questioned the legitimacy of my statements regarding Chicago’s racisms in it’s housing and voting policies and actions. In these conversations, I point out the historic patterns that aren’t that long ago. Just because Chicago is the reason Illinois is Blue, does not mean that it isn’t fraught with racisms, systems that promote one race over another, and more.

So this Tuesday, as I was working as an Election Judge, I looked at the team I was on. We had two men, one married white man and a Black high school student (YES GenZ!) and seven women. One Indian, one (white) immigrant, four white women, and our only experienced Election Judge, one Black women. We worked together 5am-8:45pm and saw 51 voters from 6am-7pm. We spent the down time in conversation. In one conversation, I looked up and based on an expression I asked myself, are you over explaining? For the white women, no, they didn’t know and had asked a “nah duh” question (this is my term for a heavily discussed topic that when you’re wealthy and/or white you can ignore it and pretend its new information). For the three Brown individuals? I needed to shut the F**** up.

So my answer to my question regarding racial micro aggression (hello Becky and Karen) is yes.

Here is my dilemma, if the group is white, I am responsible to confront the comments that have led to 55% of white women to vote for Trump in 2016 AND 2020. If the group is mixed 50/50 or greater number of Black and Brown, I usually listen and support those who have more experience and knowledge. Yet, if the group is 30/70 (Black/White), I take the same role as if it was 100% white. I’ve done this at jobs, social events, and any place I feel the responsibility to speak-up. Since, I answered yes my speech is a racial micro aggression, how do I act and speak with more awareness?

As a women I am not going to sit back and accept mansplaining. As a white women, I will not accept my own micro aggressions behaviors. I have more listening to do to unlearn this habit and see what should be it’s replacement.