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In 5 fiery tweets, Maxine Waters explains how Trump's been terrible for black people.

Standing in front of a sea of mostly white supporters at an August 2016 campaign rally in Michigan, Trump argued that life in America is so horrific for black Americans, they might as well change things up and vote Republican.

“You’re living in poverty, your schools are no good, you have no jobs, 58% of your youth is unemployed. What the hell do you have to lose?"

Trump speaking to supporters in Michigan in August 2016. Photo by Jeff Kowalsky/AFP/Getty Images.

Let's look past the inaccuracies and oversimplifications in his statement for a moment (most black people are not living in poverty, that 58% figure is wildly off the mark, and the assumption that every predominantly black school is "no good" is, at best, incredibly offensive), and take his assessment at face value.

What would black Americans have to lose under President Trump?

Many of us knew the answer, of course: a lot. Reporters and activists jumped on Trump's condescending remarks, pointing out that black voters would, in fact, be harmed by several key points of the then-candidate's policy agenda.

Six months into Trump's term, Rep. Maxine Waters of California hasn't forgotten Trump's now-infamous question.

And she's helping us understand just how much damage has already been done.

Photo by Chelsea Guglielmino/Getty Images.

In a fiery five-tweet response, Waters recalled the president's remarks from last year and lambasted what's happened since.

In her first tweet, Waters pointed out that Trumpcare would have a devastating effect on black Americans (fact check: true), that the president's massive budget cuts would slash housing assistance to low-income communities of color (fact check: true), and that his more recent attacks on universities' affirmative action policies would make college less accessible for black students (fact check: true).

Then she went in on Attorney General Jeff Sessions, calling him "a threat to our democracy."

With the power of the federal government at his disposal, Sessions has dismissed reports of police brutality, is working to stomp out the growing national consensus that our criminal justice system needs reforming, and voted against expanding protections under the Violence Against Women Act — all moves that disproportionately harm black Americans.

As Waters pointed out, we should have listened to Coretta Scott King when she warned us about him in 1986.

"Trump wants to fire Sessions [because] he can't count on his protection," Waters concluded in her final tweet, referring to Sessions' recusal from the Russia investigation. "[Sessions] should be fired for his racist agenda — but that's why Trump chose him."

So, what do black voters have to lose, according to Waters?

Apparently, quite a lot.

"At the end of four years, I guarantee you," Trump said during that 2016 speech in Michigan, "I will get over 95% of the African-American vote. I promise you.”

Considering Trump's approval rating among black Americans remains laughably poor, I wouldn't hold my breath through 2020.

March 28, 2017, was a big day for small white men with too much power.

(Then again, when is it not?)

Instead of listening or responding to her points, Bill O'Reilly stopped in to "Fox and Friends" to make a racist joke about Rep. Maxine Waters' hair. Barely hours later, Sean Spicer told respected White House correspondent April Ryan not to shake her head during a press briefing.

It's infuriating. And as a black woman, I know men (and women) like O'Reilly and Spicer are not anomalies.

We are constantly told what to wear, how to style our hair, to soften our voices, and how to behave by people who have no right to make those decisions.

But it's never about the hair or the facial expressions. It's the need to control, denigrate, and dismiss black women.

If we don't fit into their idea of blackness or womanhood, then we're described as "difficult," "a poor fit," or the old standby "angry." That makes it a lot easier to fire us, keep us from getting promoted or paid fairly, or not hire us in the first place. Score one for white supremacy.

Photo (cropped) by WOCInTech Chat/Flickr.

Time and time again, we've reminded the powers that be that we are not here for their bullshit.

What Waters and Ryan experienced was an all too common occurrence. Like many black women, educator and activist Brittany Packnett had had enough.

"I felt like, 'You are not going to come for these respected, important, committed black women,'" Packnett says. "I felt very much like they were coming for ... two family members and that there has been entirely enough of that."

She added, "I also was sort of simultaneously realizing that there would be ... the assumption that these were exceptional events. But black women know better."

So Packnett started the hashtag #BlackWomenAtWork and invited black women to share their experiences.

Listen to black women. Trust black women. And believe black women when we tell you: This happens all the time.

1. It happens to doctors.

2. It happens to attorneys.

3. It happens to professors.

4. It happens in meetings.

5. It happens with co-workers.

6. It happens with managers.

6. It happens when you're just trying to get your work done.

7. It happens when you're auditioning.

8. It happens when you're interviewing.

9. It happens to women who are in too vulnerable a position to do anything about it.

10. It happens everyday, and it is exhausting.

11. It happens every day, and it feels awful.

But in struggle, there is solidarity. There is resilience. There is hope.

Maxine Waters, the legislator who inspired the hashtag, even got in on the social media groundswell. She also had an inspiring call to action on "All In With Chris Hayes" last night.

After the hashtag's overnight virality, many black women returned to Twitter this morning renewed, energized, and more determined than ever to confront this daily injustice.

12. Because black women won't be defeated.

13. Won't be denied.

14. And will never stop grinding, pushing, and working...

15. ...to show you what we're made of.

For Packnett and many others involved in activism and resistance work, this hashtag is just the beginning.

All of us have a responsibility to create inclusive work environments where everyone, particularly women and femmes of color, have a chance to succeed. Reading and listening to the stories black women shared last night is a great starting point.

"I hope people recognize that black women deserve dignity in the workplace whether they're a congresswoman or a domestic worker and everything in between," Packnett says. "I hope people who read this have a duty to not let this be their workplace, to not let this be their team. And to not let these stories be invisible."

Trust and listen to black women. This bears repeating: Trust and listen to black women.

We have not steered you wrong yet.

We built this country with grit and grace. We are smart. We are accomplished. We are talented beyond measure. We're leading start-ups and business empires. We're changing narratives. We're making art. We're making a difference. And yet, we are left behind, ignored, and underrepresented time and time again.

Yes, "Hidden Figures" is winning awards, but not before the real women that the movie was based on were summarily erased from history for over 50 years. Photo by Robyn Beck/AFP/Getty Images.

But that pattern ends today. It's time to start listening.

Here's the three-step process for listening to black women:

Listen to what black women have to say.
Share what they say with your networks while giving them full credit.
Repeat steps 1 and 2 forever and ever.

It sounds easy. Most of you are doing it already. But in a society that's quick to ignore or minimize the contributions of black women, it's vital that we continue to listen and make room for their voices to be heard.

Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images.

Short on black voices in your life? Start with Twitter.

Here are 23 writers, educators, artists, lawyers, politicians, actors, advocates, dreamers, do-ers, and visionaries to follow, read, listen to, and signal-boost.

1. Blair Imani — @BlairImani

The voice of this black American Muslim activist is even more necessary in the wake of bigoted and shortsighted policies from the White House.

2. Symone D. Sanders — @SymoneDSanders

She's a political commentator on CNN and former press secretary for Bernie Sanders (no relation).

3. Nell Painter — @PainterNell

Painter is a scholar, author, historian, and artist. (Yes, Nell Painter's a painter.)

4. La'Tasha D. Mayes — @duxfemfac

She's a kickass reproductive justice activist and one to follow if you care about your body and what you're allowed to do with it.

5. The Kitchenista — @MissAngelaDavis

Miss Angela Davis, aka The Kitchenista, is a private chef, food blogger, and creator of seriously mouthwatering recipes.

6. Tressie McMillan Cottom, Ph.D. — @tressiemcphd

Tressie Mc is a professor, sociologist, and expert on the high cost of for-profit colleges.

7. April Reign — @ReignOfApril

Reign is the managing editor of Broadway Black and the woman behind the hashtag #OscarsSoWhite.

8. Elaine Welteroth — @ElaineWelteroth

She's the editor of Teen Vogue and the guiding voice behind their sweeping shift toward the inclusive and political.

9. Chirlane McCray — @NYCFirstLady

In addition to being the first lady of New York City, McCray is a writer, activist, and mental health advocate.

10. Bree Newsome — @BreeNewsome

She's a writer, filmmaker, and activist best known for taking the Confederate flag down from in front of the South Carolina state capitol.

11. Angelica Ross — @angelicaross

Ross is a transgender actress and founder of TransTech Social Enterprises, a training, economic development, and employment program for transgender and gender nonconforming people.

12. Patrice Grell Yursik — @afrobella

Yursik writes on black beauty and hair along with fashion and culture for her popular website, Afrobella. She's also contributed to Ebony, Essence, and Newsweek.

13. Wagatwe Wanjuki — @wagatwe

A former Upworthy writer, Wanjuki now writes for Daily Kos and is a fierce activist, dedicated to eliminating rape and gender-based violence.

14. DNLee —@DNLee5

DNLee is a mammalogist, writer, and new professor. She blogs for Scientific American.

15. Kashana Cauley — @kashanacauley

Cauley is a writer and humorist who was recently joined the writing staff of "The Daily Show."

16. Dorothy Charles — @dn_charles

Charles is the multiracial medical student behind #WhiteCoats4BlackLives.

17. Ijeoma Oluo — @IjemoaOluo

She's an amazing writer, critic, and editor-at-large for The Establishment.

18. Vilissa Thompson — @VilissaThompson

She's the founder of Ramp Your Voice, a self-advocacy and empowerment movement for people with disabilities. She also created the hashtag #DisabilityTooWhite.

19. Imani Gandy — @AngryBlackLady

Gandy is an attorney turned journalist and activist. She is the senior legal analyst at Rewire and co-host of This Week In Blackness' flagship podcast #TWIBPrime.

20. Danyel Smith — @danamo

Smith is the former editor-in-chief of Vibe magazine and the senior culture editor for ESPN's The Undefeated, a new digital initiative.

21. Nalo Hopkinson — @Nalo_Hopkinson

Hopkinson is a fantasy and science fiction writer whose work you definitely need to add to your reading list.

22. Rep. Maxine Waters — @MaxineWaters

For over two decades, she's represented California's 43rd District in the House of Representatives. Now, she's leading the resistance in Congress.

23. Marley Dias — @iammarleydias

You may recall Dias' effort to collect 1,000 books about black girls. Now this 12-year-old has a book deal of her own!

The best part? This is only the beginning.

It was nearly impossible to curate this list down to 23. I left off some pretty big names in favor of some lesser-known women doing big things in their fields. That's why I pulled all of these accounts and even more you should follow into a Twitter list. When it comes to black women, there is no shortage of awesome.

Photo by Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images.

We are out here.

In every walk of life. In every career. Every state and every country. We are out here. Listen to our lived experiences. Fund our research. Buy tickets to our performances. Hear our lectures. Subscribe to our channels and podcasts. Cook our recipes. But first and foremost listen. Just listen.

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