"A safe space is a community where you can reasonably assume that you will not be re-traumatized by the same injustices society heaps on you.
A safe space is an occasion and a gathering where you can let down your guard, take off your armor, and breathe again"
Trump's presence was a violation of a safe space, but it was also glimpse into the strength and collective expertise of Black journalists.
Trump thought himself to be the master of the room, but put his "bafoonery" on display at a time when we can also simultaneously witness grace, intelligence, and stability in VP Kamala Harris.
They put Trump on the record at a neutral location where he never appears, far from his usual sycophantic havens.
Jemar, I deeply appreciate your explanation about what safe spaces mean. I have the disturbing realization that as a middle class white person born in 1954, I have experienced most of my life in a "safe" space. By virtue of the color of my skin, I have not been traumatized by the same injustices that have been heaped upon black people by people of my race.
Thank you so much for posting the video of this interview. I confess I had not heard of the NABJ prior to the news of this interview. Once again, you have helped to widen my knowledge, my worldview and my perspective. I appreciate and respect that the NABJ continued its tradition of inviting Presidential candidates and invited Trump, knowing that the interview would probably go just the way it went. The skilled moderators asked expressly appropriate and legitimate questions for a former President and current presidential candidate. (I wish they had asked him about his comments about never having to vote again if he wins this election) The interview was not fruitless - it revealed more of what we already knew about Trump: that he can state the problems, but has absolutely no valid policy solutions to offer for those problems. All he has to offer is shame, blame, and attack on the very people he hopes to pursuade to vote for him. I appreciate the NABJ for shining a spotlight on his complete and total incompetence. As a result, I - like Jonathan - am more galvanized than ever to work by white woman's butt off to make sure that Kamala Harris is our next President!
The journalist April Ryan wrote “Black Women Will Save The World” and isn’t that the truth. I realize I can only imagine the burden and bravery; what a debt of lament and gratitude we owe!
Thank you for sharing this. I hadn’t thought of this event from the point of view of a “safe space.” As an outsider, I saw the way it played out as triumphal — Trump was on the journalists’ turf and didn’t get away with anything. On the contrary, he was fully exposed before the work for the racist misogynist that he is and I’m grateful.
I’m having trouble fitting the NABJ conference under the covering of a “safe place.” They are competent professionals, and in that context, we look to them to ferret out the facts of the stories, the controversial and unpleasant as well the “warn and fuzzies.”
The Trump interview, and it’s a far stretch to fit his tirades into that platform, should reveal to any African American considering to vote for him just what he is. He is a deceiver, he never answers the questions but rather masks his true racist intentions with insulting diversions.
The three journalists conducted the interview with professional intelligence, integrity, and unintimidated the narcissistic, sophomoric bully.
Dr Tisby, I don’t know if they should have invited him or not, but it is on the cover of the Star Tribune here in Minneapolis/St Paul (“Trump: Harris “happened to turn Black”) so I am hoping that his horrible comments get more into view of people who aren’t paying enough attention to what he has been saying at his rallies.
Thank you for this viewpoint & explanation, Jemar. I only hope that this incredibly awful display by Trump will work against him as people will be so put off by how he behaved.
I have a hard time seeing this convention as a safe space, given your excellent definition of what safe spaces do. As an older white male I don’t have much need of them , although there are times everyone can use a space where old wounds aren’t reopened and one can relax and feel peace.
In churches we do this with retreats and conferences. Some might be tempted to say church conventions are safe spaces, but Google “SBC convention” or the like and one is quickly disabused of that notion. What I know of this convention places it closer to the later church gathering than the former. Inviting Presidential candidates, no matter their character is going to invite the opening of wounds.
I think what the Trump invite did was make loud the quiet part of his message. Many of my white older friends scoff at the idea that he is racist. That is now much harder to do. It should have already been obvious but many of us try hard to forget this part of him. So for what it’s worth, I’m glad it happened even as I regret that the need for a place of refuge was violated.
It’s not for me as a white woman to comment on the choice made to host that man;however, it has certainly gone viral! Evil for all to see! My prayer is that those who were considering voting for him would see how vile that choice would obviously be! The contrast in candidates was made crystal clear to a larger audience than anticipated, so who can say whether what was meant for evil God can use for ultimate blessing…
I am so sorry for the harm done, the hate put on display. It galvanizes me even more as a "white dude for Kamala" to not let Trump minimize the damage done and get away with spewing lies. Here is a chat thread I have started after his comment about being the best President since Lincoln:
Dr. Tisby thank you for explaining or reminding us of what a safe space is, or should be. I grew up in relatively safe white neighborhoods. But my mom, sister and I were not in a safe space within our own home. As an adult, and a mother of three daughters, I needed to find a safe space to unpack my trauma so that I could create a safer space for my own children and for my true self. I had to unpack my fear. When I was ready to share my grief, fear and trauma with my husband, I did it in a safe place with a counselor ready to fight to keep the space safe. There was no such person at the conference to hold the safety of the space. My heart goes out to the journalists who were violated by the words! 😭
Great definition:
"A safe space is a community where you can reasonably assume that you will not be re-traumatized by the same injustices society heaps on you.
A safe space is an occasion and a gathering where you can let down your guard, take off your armor, and breathe again"
Trump's presence was a violation of a safe space, but it was also glimpse into the strength and collective expertise of Black journalists.
Trump thought himself to be the master of the room, but put his "bafoonery" on display at a time when we can also simultaneously witness grace, intelligence, and stability in VP Kamala Harris.
They put Trump on the record at a neutral location where he never appears, far from his usual sycophantic havens.
Jemar, I deeply appreciate your explanation about what safe spaces mean. I have the disturbing realization that as a middle class white person born in 1954, I have experienced most of my life in a "safe" space. By virtue of the color of my skin, I have not been traumatized by the same injustices that have been heaped upon black people by people of my race.
Thank you so much for posting the video of this interview. I confess I had not heard of the NABJ prior to the news of this interview. Once again, you have helped to widen my knowledge, my worldview and my perspective. I appreciate and respect that the NABJ continued its tradition of inviting Presidential candidates and invited Trump, knowing that the interview would probably go just the way it went. The skilled moderators asked expressly appropriate and legitimate questions for a former President and current presidential candidate. (I wish they had asked him about his comments about never having to vote again if he wins this election) The interview was not fruitless - it revealed more of what we already knew about Trump: that he can state the problems, but has absolutely no valid policy solutions to offer for those problems. All he has to offer is shame, blame, and attack on the very people he hopes to pursuade to vote for him. I appreciate the NABJ for shining a spotlight on his complete and total incompetence. As a result, I - like Jonathan - am more galvanized than ever to work by white woman's butt off to make sure that Kamala Harris is our next President!
The journalist April Ryan wrote “Black Women Will Save The World” and isn’t that the truth. I realize I can only imagine the burden and bravery; what a debt of lament and gratitude we owe!
Thank you for sharing this. I hadn’t thought of this event from the point of view of a “safe space.” As an outsider, I saw the way it played out as triumphal — Trump was on the journalists’ turf and didn’t get away with anything. On the contrary, he was fully exposed before the work for the racist misogynist that he is and I’m grateful.
I learned a lot from this explanation about why it was harmful to let Trump enter this space and do more of his abusive behavior.
I’m having trouble fitting the NABJ conference under the covering of a “safe place.” They are competent professionals, and in that context, we look to them to ferret out the facts of the stories, the controversial and unpleasant as well the “warn and fuzzies.”
The Trump interview, and it’s a far stretch to fit his tirades into that platform, should reveal to any African American considering to vote for him just what he is. He is a deceiver, he never answers the questions but rather masks his true racist intentions with insulting diversions.
The three journalists conducted the interview with professional intelligence, integrity, and unintimidated the narcissistic, sophomoric bully.
Dr Tisby, I don’t know if they should have invited him or not, but it is on the cover of the Star Tribune here in Minneapolis/St Paul (“Trump: Harris “happened to turn Black”) so I am hoping that his horrible comments get more into view of people who aren’t paying enough attention to what he has been saying at his rallies.
Thank you for this viewpoint & explanation, Jemar. I only hope that this incredibly awful display by Trump will work against him as people will be so put off by how he behaved.
I have a hard time seeing this convention as a safe space, given your excellent definition of what safe spaces do. As an older white male I don’t have much need of them , although there are times everyone can use a space where old wounds aren’t reopened and one can relax and feel peace.
In churches we do this with retreats and conferences. Some might be tempted to say church conventions are safe spaces, but Google “SBC convention” or the like and one is quickly disabused of that notion. What I know of this convention places it closer to the later church gathering than the former. Inviting Presidential candidates, no matter their character is going to invite the opening of wounds.
I think what the Trump invite did was make loud the quiet part of his message. Many of my white older friends scoff at the idea that he is racist. That is now much harder to do. It should have already been obvious but many of us try hard to forget this part of him. So for what it’s worth, I’m glad it happened even as I regret that the need for a place of refuge was violated.
It’s not for me as a white woman to comment on the choice made to host that man;however, it has certainly gone viral! Evil for all to see! My prayer is that those who were considering voting for him would see how vile that choice would obviously be! The contrast in candidates was made crystal clear to a larger audience than anticipated, so who can say whether what was meant for evil God can use for ultimate blessing…
I am so sorry for the harm done, the hate put on display. It galvanizes me even more as a "white dude for Kamala" to not let Trump minimize the damage done and get away with spewing lies. Here is a chat thread I have started after his comment about being the best President since Lincoln:
https://open.substack.com/chat/posts/d2383751-e5dc-407b-8b78-99e219177c10
and here is my post on the same topic today:
https://jonathanbrownson.substack.com/p/flags?r=gdp9j
Dr. Tisby thank you for explaining or reminding us of what a safe space is, or should be. I grew up in relatively safe white neighborhoods. But my mom, sister and I were not in a safe space within our own home. As an adult, and a mother of three daughters, I needed to find a safe space to unpack my trauma so that I could create a safer space for my own children and for my true self. I had to unpack my fear. When I was ready to share my grief, fear and trauma with my husband, I did it in a safe place with a counselor ready to fight to keep the space safe. There was no such person at the conference to hold the safety of the space. My heart goes out to the journalists who were violated by the words! 😭
He should not have been invited and the organization needs to apologize. They need to also expose this ridiculous, shameful interview for all to see.
Very helpful, thank you!