To the Editorial Board of the Mankato Free Press,
In your recent editorial analyzing Kamala Harris’s loss in the presidential election, an essential factor went unaddressed: the profound impact of race and gender on voter perceptions. It’s important to recognize that, as humans, our understanding of others is often shaped by the cultural messages we have absorbed—sometimes unconsciously—throughout our lives.
Consider the many ways stereotypes about women and African Americans have been embedded in our culture, from news media to movies and even casual conversations. Until 1974, women in the United States couldn’t even obtain credit cards in their own names without a male co-signer. Such policies reflected deeply ingrained ideas about women’s capabilities, often portraying them as irrational or dependent. Similarly, negative portrayals of African Americans have permeated our media and collective mindset for generations, making it difficult to separate facts from biases.
In the recent election, over 70% of white male voters supported Donald Trump—a telling figure that may reflect underlying biases and stereotypes, whether or not they were overtly acknowledged. Harris’s candidacy, as a woman of color, was therefore not just a test of policy but also of how willing Americans are to confront and move beyond these entrenched views.
I encourage the Free Press to more explicitly address how racial and gender biases influence electoral outcomes. And to all of us in predominantly white communities, let’s take a moment to question how stereotypes may be influencing our thoughts and actions as we interact with our neighbors and community members who may be different from us. Understanding this is crucial if we are to foster a more just and equitable society.
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