How Stacey Abrams And Andrew Gillum Are Weaving Through Attacks Against Their Campaigns
And they're still coming out on top!
It’s hard being Black and running for office, especially in southern states like Georgia or Florida, which is also a swing state. Yet Stacey Abrams and Andrew Gillum have managed to keep charging through, as they head toward this year’s midterm elections. Their presence as gubernatorial candidates has been seen as inspirational for Black people who also seek to run, but it's also a testament to the strength it takes to withstand all of the struggles that come with running while Black. With the currently heightened visibility of white nationalism and racism, Abrams and Gillum have had to work twice as hard to make sure their public image and reputations are not damaged by the attacks hurled at their campaigns.Abrams and Gillum’s presence in politics as well as their campaign operations directly contradict the antics and politics of Trump’s presidency. And when Black people, who aren’t highly represented in politics, attempt to make change by running for political office, the easiest method to bring them down is to establish a lack of credibility. Although both candidates are running for office in two different states, Abrams and Gillum have faced similar attacks on their campaigns, which have had a tendency to contain racial undertones that play off of negative stereotypes of Black people. Both Abrams and Gillum have had their credibility challenged, often flipping the narrative from being friendly and passionate politicians to being portrayed as aggressive and animalistic. They have battled everything, from derogatory comments and putdowns — even being called a "thief" or "unqualified" — to perpetuated backlash created by Republican voters.Stacey Abrams’ credibility as a candidate was targeted when photos surfaced online of her from her days as a young, student activist. Taken in 1992, the pictures showed Abrams, a college freshman at the time, burning the Georgia state flag, which between 1956 and 2001 contained a Confederate battle emblem within its imagery. The photos of Abrams that were released were meant to scare Georgian voters into thinking that Abrams was another "angry Black woman"; the opposite of the friendly, approachable demeanor she's consistently presented to the public throughout her campaign.Rather than placate those who were more concerned about the act of flag burning than what it actually symbolized — the intention to rid Georgia of this symbol of white supremacy — Abrams did not back down. While she admitted that this course of action was "wrong," it was also part of a "peaceful protest," as the divisive Confederate symbol made Georgia unsafe for all citizens. She then pivoted the conversation back to her positive, constructive contributions on behalf of the state of Georgia, a clear indication that she's not anti-Georgia but anti-institutionalized racism. "Abrams’ time in public service as deputy city attorney and as a state legislative leader have all been focused on bringing people together to solve problems," Abrams' spokeswoman Abigail Collazo said via an interview with Newsweek.Like Abrams, attempts to criticize Gillum's campaign and tarnish his image have also been rooted racism. For instance, his opponent, Republican nominee Ron DeSantis, had the audacity to equate electing Gillum to voting a monkey into office. "We've got to work hard to make sure that we continue Florida going in a good direction. Let's build on the success we've had on Governor Scott. The last thing we need to do is monkey this up by trying to adopt a socialist agenda with huge tax increases and bankrupting the state," DeSantis said in an interview with Fox News.Though DeSantis tried to play off his "monkey this up" comment as a commonly used colloquialism that had "zero to do with race," the true implication was obvious: In an effort to debunk Gillum's credibility as a viable candidate for governor, DeSantis was comparing Gillum's well thought out, intelligible political agenda to that of a monkey's — an uncivilized, primitive creature in the wild. And DeSantis isn't the first the person to ever draw this crude parallel between Black human beings and monkeys or apes, as this racist stereotype has unfortunately permeated society for centuries. In response, Gillum took the high road by addressing DeSantis' ignorance directly to his face during Florida's gubernatorial debate. "I’m not calling Mr. DeSantis a racist," Gillum said. "I’m simply saying the racists believe he’s a racist." This clever tactic enabled Gillum to pass the responsibility of personally calling DeSantis out for racism to his supporters, while simultaneously keeping his cool.Although the financial history of candidates can be of importance to voters, racism has also factored into financially related criticisms of Abrams and Gillum's campaigns, as well. Abrams’ debt of over $200,000 has been brought up throughout her political campaign.“I am in debt, but I am not alone. Debt is a millstone that weighs down more than three-quarters of Americans. It can determine whether we are able to run for office, to launch a business, to quit a job we hate. But it should not — and cannot — be a disqualification for ambition,” she said in an article for Fortune, which addressed concerns over her debt. Abrams' consistent transparency has helped her connect with voters who see her as an underdog despite her circumstances. Meanwhile, her opponent Brian Kemp, failed to repay the $500,000 he owes for a business loan he personally guaranteed, and he is now being sued over the matter. But while Abrams' past debt and actions have been scrutinized — even referred to as "criminal" — very little connection has been drawn between Kemp's debt and his ability to handle and manage money, if elected.Gillum’s finances became the topic of conversation when an article surfaced framing his exclusion of over $400,000 from his financial disclosure forms as intentional deceit and an indication of future behavior, if elected. However, Gillum quickly fired back via an article in Medium, in which he owned up to the error, claiming that he incorrectly put down the wrong mortgage on the forms, and was using an extended period to turn in the correct information.Due to America's long history of racism, the idea of handing control and management of taxpayers' money to a person of color can trigger irrational fear. This is why the attempts to exploit Abrams' debt or Gillum's mortgage issues can be linked to longer legacy of stereotypes around Black people and finances. And while their opponents might try to use their personal finances as reasons why they are not fit for the role of governor, both candidates both have had prior experience making executive, financially related decisions in their previous political positions; Gillum as mayor of Tallahassee and Abrams as House minority leader.Abrams and Gillum have also experienced threats of violence throughout their campaigns. During a campaign event for veterans, Abrams was interrupted by a Georgia white supremacist group, who bombarded her with questions regarding her plan to remove Confederate monuments. They yelled at Abrams and the veterans in attendance, until Abrams addressed them by standing firm in her decision to take them down. Gillum also received harassment on Twitter, specifically from a Trump supporter named Cesar Sayoc, who constantly tweeted about Gillum, and even went as far as mailing pipe bombs to Gillum’s donors.The Republican Governors Association (RGA) has also been guilty of painting Abrams and Gillum’s actions as extreme, since the political views of the two Democratic candidates oppose their own. The RGA broadcasted an ad that described Abrams as “the most radical liberal to ever run for governor,” while Kemp has said she’s trying to “turn Georgia into California.” A Gillum-themed ad also broadcasted by the RGA used Gillum's alliance with Dream Defenders, a youth-organizing group in Florida that supports prison abolition, to frame the Democratic gubernatorial nominee as "radical" by association.This label of "radical" is often imposed upon Black people who speak their minds, unafraid to voice their views on social justice and how to achieve a genuine sense of equality. Malcolm X, Martin Luther King, Shirley Chisholm — the list of Black folks ever accused of being "radical" in their thoughts and beliefs goes on and on. More often than not, their progressive views are perceived as a threat to the status quo; misconstrued as destructive and divisive, no matter how they may adhere to respectability politics and the law. Meanwhile, white supremacists are allowed to roam freely throughout the nation and defend their toxic views under the guise of free speech.Despite all the threats and attacks, Abrams and Gillum have not given up on their respective races for governor of Georgia and Florida. With November 6 on the horizon, they are still tenaciously making their way through the political races with their heads held high. It's clear that for both Gillum and Abrams, the world of politics is no more cutthroat or dangerous than being Black in the United States — and with mindset, they are already winning. Like this content? Well check these out:5 Things To Do If You've Lost Confidence In The Political System Here's What 2019 Could Look With Three Black Governors5 Racist Tactics Black People Have To Overcome When Running For Office Make sure you're following Blavity:Politics on Instagram and join our daily newsletter to stay engaged and...
