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Dear Governor LePage


Dear Governor LePage,

 We would like to thank you for how courageous you have been in the wake of the events that took place in Charlottesville, Virginia. Your complete and utter silence conveys how deeply you are concerned about the state of racism in Maine and in the United States. After all, there’s nothing like silence in the face of violent white supremacy to convey how much you care about humanity.

 Though many of your Republican colleagues have denounced the racist, anti-semitic, and violent rhetoric and acts that shook Charlottesville on Saturday, August 12th, you knew you didn’t need to waste your breath on all that. In 2011, you conveyed your values in one eloquent statement, a statement meant to fill us all with hope for a brighter future, when you said of the NAACP: “kiss my butt.” This was poetry, pure poetry, and affirmed your deep commitment to healing our nation’s ruptured attempt at Reconstruction.

 You clearly have a deep understanding of institutionalized racism and the systemic structures that perpetuate inequality. I can just tell you read The New Jim Crow and Waking Up White. It’s in your eyes. I bet you even revisit White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack every few years, just to keep your privilege in check. That’s why we should just trust your silence. You obviously have a rich and nuanced understanding of history and race. How else could you have been elected?

 Furthermore, we can’t believe people have accused you of being racist. Don’t they know that you have a black son? Everyone knows that if you know one or two people of color, then you’re not racist. Ultimately, racism is all about being nice, really nice, to people of color when you meet them and has nothing at all to do with a history of racist housing policies, a racist criminal justice system, or even implicit bias. Your silence in the wake of Charlottesville has conveyed all of this with a powerful dignity. There is no way that someone as silent as you could be a supporter of the white supremacist movement. After all, your silence is definitely gaining votes!
Your inaction after the horrifying events of Charlottesville has created a legacy that all other leaders will struggle to match. From here on in, whenever an injustice takes place, our leaders will ask themselves: “Can I, too, be silent like Governor LePage?”

Thank you so much for being ready to listen, at least passively. We are so glad that you are at the helm, ready to support us, as we strive to become a more inclusive, welcoming Maine. Send our regards to Trump! You may not talk to the press, but at least you talk to him, and that’s what really matters, right?

 Sincerely,
Portlandish staff

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