On Projection

White friends:

A few days ago I highlighted Sen. Rubio’s gaslighting tweet as one of the vicious tools used to preserve white supremacy. Today, I’d like to use a Rep. Jim Jordan quote to highlight another tool: Projection.

Projection, used as a weapon, is when you are actually speaking an ugly truth about yourself and instead of acknowledging and working through that truth, you project it onto a target. Today, Rep. Jordan said “Cancel culture will come for all of us!” (as if the idea of holding ppl accountable for their illegal, insidious actions is somehow the problem).

In reality, the forces of racism & fascism that he and his colleagues fueled and enflamed is the thing that will come for all of us if left unchallenged (and eventually vanquished). Right now, he and other elected officials in the Republican Party are fearing that the violent, racist extremists they leveraged for political gain will come for them and their families.

So instead of coming clean and admitting the grave moral judgement, projection is used in an attempt to change the topic, pass blame and avoid consequences.

Perhaps you have come across this behavior with friends or family in intense conversations. It is important that you call it out for what it is, and explain how projection is preventing that person from processing their feelings and shortcomings. Tell them it’s ok to look at the truth: essential, even. But, if you don’t feel safe, walk away knowing that you love that person enough to tell them the truth. It’s up to them to listen.