For nearly two weeks, Americans have shown up by the thousands to protest racial injustice and police brutality, including in our nation's capital. As a result, an 8-foot fence has been erected around the White House, reinforced by concrete barricades, spanning approximately 1.7 miles, according to the Washington Post.
Now protesters are using the fence as a living monument racial justice, plastering it with signs supporting the protests, naming people who have been killed at the hands of the police, and calling for support for Black lives.
The fence outside the White House has been converted to a crowd-sourced memorial wall — almost like an art gallery… https://t.co/fmOpJa0Rjv— Hannah Natanson (@Hannah Natanson) 1591549877.0
.@realDonaldTrump seems to be walled in by a #BlackLivesMatter Memorial. Peaceful protestors helped pay for the wal… https://t.co/zzBNe8C2aK— Alexandra Chalupa (@Alexandra Chalupa) 1591584895.0
The signs are a mix of standards such as "Black Lives Matter" and "No Justice No Peace," in addition to more creative statements like "Racism is an insult to God's creativity," and "Racism is so American that when you protest it, people think you are protesting America."
Fence near White House. #dcprotest #GeorgeFloydProtests https://t.co/5mYMGNTgGy— Lindsay Watts (@Lindsay Watts) 1591565258.0
How ironic for the president, who has celebrated police brutality in his speeches, utilized police brutality to clear his path for a widely-ridiculed photo op in front of St. John's Church, and voiced vehement disapproval of peaceful protests on the issue, to now be surrounded by a wall of messages like this.
Reddit users posted some interesting commentary on the fence-turned-memorial wall:
"Turning Trump's wall of failure into a two mile long billboard for civil rights? That's absolutely brilliant."
"Who would have thought that when Trump finally built his stupid wall it would be to keep America out of the White House?"
"Between this and the mayor painting 'Black Lives Matter' down the street outside the White House, I'm loving these peaceful power moves. Way to go DC!"
"BLM should offer a service where you can pay to get your message posted. From across the country, I'd pay $10 to have my message zip-tied to that fence."
"I hope this fence is preserved. It belongs in a museum for future generations."
"Outstanding. The visuals of taking memorials down will be worse for Trump than leaving them up - which isn't good for him and probably pissing him off into ranting rage."
The fencing itself had already prompted a viral #BabyGate hashtag, as people used the fence to poke fun at President Trump's toddler-like tantrums and need for attention. Now it's created an opportunity for protesters to have their voices heard in a powerful new way.
The president has also been blasted for hiding out in a bunker during protests outside the White House, especially after he had urged the governor of Michigan to talk to the armed protesters who stormed the state capitol protesting stay-at-home orders. (In addition to the hypocrisy, one has to ask: If you have to hide in a bunker and build a wall to protect yourself from your own citizens, can you really call yourself a successful leader?)
How Trump handles this wall—both now and when the times comes for it to be removed—will be telling. In the meantime, what a beautiful symbol of citizens demanding their voices be heard.
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12 non-threatening leadership strategies for women
We mustn't hurt a man's feelings.
Men and the feels.
Note: This an excerpt is from Sarah Cooper's book, How to Be Successful Without Hurting Men's Feelings.
In this fast-paced business world, female leaders need to make sure they're not perceived as pushy, aggressive, or competent.
One way to do that is to alter your leadership style to account for the fragile male ego.
Should men accept powerful women and not feel threatened by them? Yes. Is that asking too much?
IS IT?
Sorry, I didn't mean to get aggressive there. Anyhoo, here are twelve non-threatening leadership strategies for women.
Encourage.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When setting a deadline, ask your coworker what he thinks of doing something, instead of just asking him to get it done. This makes him feel less like you're telling him what to do and more like you care about his opinions.
Sharing ideas.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When sharing your ideas, overconfidence is a killer. You don't want your male coworkers to think you're getting all uppity. Instead, downplay your ideas as just "thinking out loud," "throwing something out there," or sharing something "dumb," "random," or "crazy."
Email requests.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Pepper your emails with exclamation marks and emojis so you don't come across as too clear or direct. Your lack of efficient communication will make you seem more approachable.
Idea sharing.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
If a male coworker steals your idea in a meeting, thank him for it. Give him kudos for how he explained your idea so clearly. And let's face it, no one might've ever heard it if he hadn't repeated it.
Sexism.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When you hear a sexist comment, the awkward laugh is key. Practice your awkward laugh at home, with your friends and family, and in the mirror. Make sure you sound truly delighted even as your soul is dying inside.
Mansplain.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Men love explaining things. But when he's explaining something and you already know that, it might be tempting to say, "I already know that." Instead, have him explain it to you over and over again. It will make him feel useful and will give you some time to think about how to avoid him in the future.
Mistakes.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Pointing out a mistake is always risky so it's important to always apologize for noticing the mistake and then make sure that no one thinks you're too sure about it. People will appreciate your "hey what do I know?!" sensibilities.
Promotions.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Asking your manager for a promotion could make you seem power- hungry, opportunistic, and transparent. Instead, ask a male coworker to vouch for you. Have your coworker tell your manager you'd be great for the role even though you don't really want it. This will make you more likely to actually get that promotion.
Rude.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Sometimes not everyone is properly introduced at the start of a meeting. Don't take it personally even if it happens to you all the time, and certainly don't stop the meeting from moving forward to introduce yourself. Sending a quick note afterward is the best way to introduce yourself without seeming too self-important.
Interruptions.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When you get interrupted, you might be tempted to just continue talking or even ask if you can finish what you were saying. This is treacherous territory. Instead, simply stop talking. The path of least resistance is silence.
Collaboration.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When collaborating with a man, type using only one finger. Skill and speed are very off-putting.
Disagreements.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When all else fails, wear a mustache so everyone sees you as more man-like. This will cancel out any need to change your leadership style. In fact, you may even get a quick promotion!
In conclusion...
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Many women have discovered the secret power of non-threatening leadership. We call it a "secret power" because no one else actually knows about it. We keep our power hidden within ourselves so that it doesn't frighten and intimidate others. That's what makes us the true unsung heroes of the corporate world.
About the Author: Sarah Cooper
Sarah Cooper is a writer, comedian, and author of 100 Tricks to Appear Smart in Meetings. Her new book, How to Be Successful Without Hurting Men's Feelings, is out now.
The comedic book cover.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
A satirical take on what it's like to be a woman in the workplace, Cooper draws from her experience as a former executive in the world of tech (she's a former Googler and Yahooer). You can get the book here.
This article was originally published on March 25, 2019.