Member-only story

OP-ED

“Trash” Knows No Color or Economic Boundary

Donald Trump and his ilk are living proof

Sherry McGuinn

--

Image by Gage Skidmore/Flickr.Com

Author’s note: The following piece was recently published in my Substack, Sherry Raw.

So. “White trash.” In the past, whenever I heard this nasty slam, I’d cringe inwardly. To me, calling people “trash” for not having enough money to keep up with the Joneses and live in a neat, little cottage surrounded by a white picket fence, sickened me.

What’s more, being that we’re so fond of our cliches here in the U.S., no matter how damaging, the term immediately did, and still does bring to mind poor white folk in the south, their unwashed asses hanging out of ripped overalls as they laze about in gnarly trailer parks.

That said, I choose to look at this derogatory, class-related slur in a new light. As in, “White people, or people of any color, exhibiting trashy behavior.” And, there is no shortage of them.

I thought about this while watching a Discovery series called Twisted Love, which depicts via actual footage and fabricated bits, “Shocking crimes committed in the name of love.” As I’ve shared before, when I work out, especially on the treadmill, I look for movies or TV shows that engage me. I’ve gotten to the point where I’ll pick any schlock that looks halfway…

--

--

Sherry McGuinn
Sherry McGuinn

Written by Sherry McGuinn

Long-time writer and big-time dreamer. Screenwriter. Cat mama. Red lip aficionado. sherrymcguinn@gmail.com

Responses (7)