Combat Political Grief in Community

Thanksgiving is a bittersweet time for many college students. Familial connection is important, but dinner-table talk has become corrupted by the broader post-2016 polarization which has pervaded the country. 

Political differences have invaded the public sphere, upending the cultural zeitgeist. Americans have expressed a desire to return to a sense of comparative normalcy — one found pre-Trump. The populist rhetoric weaponized by Donald Trump has emboldened hateful fringes of America and led to a blue collar rightward shift — factors that have led to severe polarization since 2000.

To combat this shift, we must empower ourselves through community.

The works of writer Mariame Kaba have been a crucial cornerstone in helping me remain mentally stable amidst seemingly endless political change. Her most recent book, “Let This Radicalize You,” written with Kelly Hayes, centers around the issues of isolation and burnout common in community organizing. They approach the idea of building bridges between despair and hope, intending to lead to mobilization in the name of social change. 

“Hope and grief can coexist, and if we wish to transform the world, we must learn to hold and process both simultaneously,” Kaba and Hayes wrote. “That process will, as ever, involve reaching for community.”

It’s easy to say “have hope” — but what does it look like in practice? Building and exercising hope can be seen through engaging in human connection. Giving yourself time to grieve, particularly with friends and family, is necessary. Utilizing connection generates the belief that we can imagine and act toward a better future. 

Processing grief has looked like taking space to reconcile with the ramifications of the election. Finding myself in conversation with and in the company of others has guided my connection with despair. Processing grief, even when things seem bad, may include finding comfort with those who are close or remembering to maintain and prioritize a sense of self.

Since the election, it’s evident that a collective fear surrounding a second Donald Trump term has befallen America. From the 2017 Muslim ban to the proposed Project 2025, there are past, present and future Trump administration policies limiting people’s freedom. The reality of what Trump may bring to the table calls for levels of action.

Allowing ourselves the space to process troubling events is the easiest way to take action. It’s important to approach processing our surroundings in a healthy environment, especially considering how easy it is to fall into the familiarity of spiraling or doomerism. The doors to change will open as grief is processed in connection with others.

As students return to their families over Thanksgiving break, consider unplugging from social media and treasuring those familial connections. Think about joining a community organization or reaching out to Loyola’s Wellness Center, especially if family dynamics heighten political stress. Always consider taking advantage of these tools, whether in response to the election or otherwise.