Lea Salonga on fear and hope after Trump election win

Rappler.com

This is AI generated summarization, which may have errors. For context, always refer to the full article.

Lea Salonga on fear and hope after Trump election win
Lea Salonga reflects on fears after a Trump victory, but ends her note with inspiring conviction

MANILA, Philippines – Broadway superstar Lea Salonga penned a powerful and encouraging message on social media as Americans – and the world in general – come to terms with Donald Trump becoming President-elect of the United States. (‘Do not weep:’ Stars tweet after Donald Trump win)

 

Trump shocked the world on Tuesday, November 8 when he defeated Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton in a closely-fought race for the White House.

His racist, misogynistic, and divisive remarks have been criticized throughout the campaign, and his win leaves many Americans, particularly immigrants and people of color, in fear that the impact of his rhetoric could enable or normalize racism and misogyny in America. There have already been reports of racist attacks following his win. 

On her Facebook page, the Fun Home star shared a Huffingon Post article by John Pavlovitz entitled “Here’s Why We Grieve Today.” In the piece, Pavlovitz noted how many Americans across the country were feeling after Trump’s win, saying that this was not only a political issue but a “defeat for humanity.”

In her message, Lea wrote that while her husband and daughter have American passports, she’s worried about racism anyway.

“My husband and daughter are also persons of color, never mind that they have US passports and speak perfect English,” the star wrote. 

She continue: “We both have family members that voted for Trump, something neither of us will fully understand. Because of what we are. Because of who we are.

“Because it’s possible that my daughter will be harassed, just because she is Asian, and a girl,” she wrote. 

“In a racist America, all people will see is my skin, my race and my gender. And for that I am actually afraid. Afraid to step into a country that supposedly offered the promise that hard work will get you places.

“‘Give me your tired, your poor,’ says Lady Liberty. That once gave me hope. America doesn’t look like that country anymore.”

Still, she ended her message on a hopeful note, choosing not to sign off with a message of fear. Performing, she said, was her “way of finding peace” – and she would continue to do so. 

Lea continued:

I will travel to wherever I have been invited, and I will sing.
God placed me on this earth to share my voice.
It is my way of finding peace.
It is my way of seeing the light.
It is what I was born to do.
And until my last breath, because it is as God commands,
I will sing. Even when afraid. Then hopefully, I will not be afraid anymore.”

Lea is currently starring in Fun Home, currently running at the RCBC Theatre in Makati. – Rappler.com

Add a comment

Sort by

There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation.

Summarize this article with AI

How does this make you feel?

Loading
Download the Rappler App!