The Unbearable Whiteness of Jared Kushner
Nowhere but in Trump’s America can the mediocrity of White men get a pass
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Jared Kushner calling the administration’s response to the coronavirus pandemic a “great success story” is exactly on-bullshit-brand for the First Son-in-Law of the United States.
Appearing on Fox News on Wednesday, Kushner boldly declared that, “We’re on the other side of the medical aspect of this, and I think that we’ve achieved all of the different milestones that are needed.” President Trump’s senior advisor went on to praise how “the federal government rose to the challenge.”
Kushner’s reckless remarks in the midst of the hell that is the coronavirus has me thinking about how we have no problem being condescending towards brilliant and overqualified women of color, like Stacey Abrams or even Kamala Harris, while letting mediocre White men fail up their whole lives.
“Jared Kushner is so dead inside, the president calls him ‘Melania,’” late night TV host, Jimmy Kimmel joked on his show. “Jared Kushner looks like if white privilege had a baby with raw cookie dough. Jared Kushner looks like a PEZ dispenser of Young Sheldon. Even Jared from Subway is like, ‘this Jared gives me the creeps!’ The idea that Jared thinks things are going great is nuts.” While Kimmel could not be more on the money about Kushner, Ivanka’s hubby’s latest twilight zone moment actually offers women of color a masterclass in the kind of delusional confidence only mediocre White men in American can get away with.
Just look at how the media is treating Stacey Abrams for being open and vocal about wanting to be Biden’s VP pick. Not only are there countless articles questioning Abrams’ qualifications but CNN’s Jake Tapper even asked her point-blank why she was being so blunt about her ambitions. “I’ve been asked this question since last year,” Abrams told Tapper. “I was brought into the national conversation and I’ve been very honest about my willingness to serve. As a young Black woman growing up in Mississippi, I learned that if you don’t raise your hand, people won’t see you and they won’t give you attention.” And she did not stop there. Abrams went on to clarify that she wasn’t seeking the attention just for the sake of being Biden’s running mate, but also…
