I didn’t watch DA Fani Willis’ testimony in live because I was busy doing other things. That said, I did watch several of the post testifying takes, which continued this morning. It was interesting to see where people came down on how DA Willis performed on the stand. The only consensus was that “she came in hot.” (Wouldn’t you?) After that opinions and takes varied.
I’m always a little surprised when women who are considered to be progressive take chauvinistic and archaic attitudes. When it comes from men, a little less so. Being from the South I recognize that the concept of being a Southern Gentleman comes with a healthy dose of chauvinism cloaked in respect for women.
We can’t know how someone was raised influences their adult lives until something occurs to highlight how they were raised impacts events. DA Fani Willis and what her father taught her about finances is an example. I have known about the concept of having 6 months of expenses put aside. Many people refer to it as their rainy day fund. The difference of how DA Willis was taught and how I understood it, differ on where and how those funds were set aside. My understanding was a separate bank account. but DA Willis’ dad grew up in a time when a Black man’s access to his bank account might be problematic. His perspective impacted how he taught his daughter, to have have her rainy day funds available. In their case, cash, at home. (I can see her dad having an old coffee tin in a kitchen cabinet with his funds, DA Willis’ probably uses a fireproof safe/box.)
The other area that seems to draw some skepticism from even progressive men is shared expenses. How dare a woman pay her own way! And how is a woman, who may carry as much as $1000 in her purse, supposed to reimburse a man in cash? (I seldom carry more than $100 in cash on me. I’ve been told that many under the age of 40 don’t carry any cash.) Back in the day, we used to call it going dutch. Not understanding the idea or concept of going dutch could be cultural or simply misogyny/chauvinism.
DA Willis also explained part of the reason she and Mr. Wade were no longer “dating” was his attitude about a woman’s role in a relationship. I guess several of the analysts missed that part of her testimony. Was it ill-advised for DA Willis to date a subordinate? Well, as in many, if not most cases, for one reason or another, it usually is. Was it corrupt? No.
As to the racism part. This whole episode is dripping if not oozing with it.