Andrew Gillum and the Ruse of Respectability

Black folks love a hero. Since Dr. King was so brutally murdered in 1968, we’ve been looking a leader of some kind. And when we find a smart, handsome, charismatic, and articulate straight Black man, we anoint him “leader” of the race. The problem with this mentality is we as a people don’t need a leader, we are all human, and should be free of labels and responsibility to others, and we need to let folks live and walk on in their truth.

Andrew Gillum ran for governor in Florida, after a successful career as mayor of Tallahassee. Bright, charismatic, articulate, handsome, and a family man, Black wokevists and even those of us with a little more sense and discernment, believed in him and supported his endeavors. But like most folks, tasked with being Black in Amerikkka, he was just a little too Black for some, and was cheated out of the governorship to the tune of 34k votes. Despite this crushing defeated, Gillum secured an anchor gig with CNN, and his political future appeared to be unscathed.

Then last Thursday happened. Gillum was caught in a drunken state with two other men, in a Miami hotel. Methamphetamines, three bags worth, were found on the bed and floor areas, and one of the three men needed Miami EMTs to revive him after an apparent overdose. At the time, Gillum was too inebriated to answer questions, but left the hotel without incident, and without being arrested. Gillum claims he was only drunk, is not into meth, was in town for a wedding and had too much to drink.