Four years ago yesterday, I woke up believing this country was ready to elect its first woman president. I challenged anyone who'd listen not just to defeat her opponent, but to defeat the conditions that gave him rise.

I admit: I underestimated the depth of US misogyny.

The current administration wasted no time slathering insults on political injuries. In the past four years, the breathless whispers through clutched pearls of "that's not who we are" can be matched only by the wails in the past 24 hours of "I thought we were better than this."

This is who this country has always been.
It has never been better than this.

If you are Black in the US you are ill-afforded the luxury of racial naiveté. We know this country better than it knows itself, because we've had to.

Being hyper aware of authoritarian tendencies is just part of how we've survived centuries of oppression.

We learned history that was never taught to us, occupied spaces, (including the Oval Office) never designed to accommodate us.

We have consistently fought for the equality that's been denied to us, under law.

If you are white and you're reading this, it's time to admit:

You. Have. Got. To. Stop. Underestimating the depth of US racism.