Why I filter new friends in this tense political world
The one thing Drake should’ve said about ‘no new friends’
When the 2016 Election results rolled around, I was not surprised. I cried on my couch, but I was not shocked at the results. Those tears were from disappointment. I’d already dealt with two years of a disturbing college experience and plenty of frustrating experiences in Corporate America. By 2008, I’d started treating new friends the way new employers treat your job applications: I filter them out.
Recommended Read: “Trump found guilty on all 34 counts of falsifying business records ~ Felons cannot vote in Florida, can vote in New York”
Some people make it quite obvious who they are. The co-worker in 2010 who was viciously nasty to every black women she encountered? We took note. The Obama bobblehead she plopped in the middle of her desk was no more than a facade. But others are more clever at hiding in plain sight. And sometimes it takes a bit more work to figure out who is hiding their -isms.
By Trump’s election, I’m just not willing to risk hanging out with racists who deny their racism.
ADVERTISEMENT ~ Amazon
As an Amazon affiliate, I earn a percentage from purchases with my referral links. I know some consumers are choosing to boycott Amazon for its DEI removal. However, after thinking about this thoroughly, I want to continue promoting cool products from small businesses, women-owned businesses and (specifically) Black-owned businesses who still feature their items on Amazon. As of the first date of Black History Month 2025, each new post will ALWAYS include a MINIMUM of one product sold by a Black-owned business. (I have visited the seller’s official site to verify that Amazon Black-owned logo.) I am (slowly) doing this with older, popular posts too. If you still choose to boycott, I 100% respect that decision.
Birds of a Feather Flock Together
Call it spying if you want to. But when you post public Instagram posts, Facebook statuses, Pinterest pics and tweets, you’ve already told the world that you want someone to read this message. And if you befriend me on any of these platforms, then you’re giving me more access to do so. But I’m a bit more open-minded than rapper Drake about “no new friends.” Instead I’m more likely to look at which people can be my “new friends.”