Many in this country are so sexist and racist that the thought of a Black women being free, qualified, and powerful brings out the worst in themselves. They don't simply hate her, they hate the idea that she would be so free in a place they believe is theirs. It is white rage.

It is fundamentally white supremacy. It is the deep and powerful belief that this nation, one they would believe should be white and Christian and conservative and patriarchal, is not ours. They must believe this lie to feel powerful. They must cling to whiteness, violently.

It is not that she is either qualified or not, that she is progressive or not, it is that she is bold and Black. She represents a people "out of their place". She represent fear and loss. She represent the exorcism of their demons. She represents their inhumanity.

So she, and others, in their mind, must be saved. They are Christian, she is Black. It is a missionary zeal to dehumanize and promote the lie that she does not belong where she is: freedom. But she is here. And she is not alone. She is not our salvation, but she is one of us.

They believe this nation is god's gift to them. They can never imagine good news from Black flesh. But we know this. Like Shirley, she represents a people "unbought & unbothered". Our goodness was never for them. It is to be something better, more free, more loving, more just.

So in these coming months, as people will question her Blackness, her qualification, her worth, do realize that they are telling more about themselves than they realize. They know they must give up their lies. It will not be without a fight. It never has, never will. So be ready.