No logical argument can be made to refute the multilayered, documented, and often legalized oppression of minorities in this country. From its inception, at every level of governance, the dynamics of the social construct were designed specifically to promote, accommodate, and further the sole interest of cis-gendered white men. Every group existing outside of this category have (to varying degrees) had to fight for their rightful place in society.

Even as demographic shifts have the U.S. poised to become a majority minority nation over the next couple of decades, people at every intersection of the social spectrum continue to exercise their right to organize, protest, and lobby for the demolition of oppressive norms and systems that have long existed to their detriment. These dynamics, combined with the two-term election of an African-American President, has ignited a resurgence of unapologetically overt racism among those seeking to maintain their historic rank at the pinnacle of the social order. The term "whitewash," famously coined by CNN commentator Van Jones after the 2016 presidential election of Donald Trump, has been used to describe the resulting heightened tension and increased polarization of this country. As these conflicting agendas collide, how do we get beyond conflict to move toward sustainable political and social change? 

In an effort to mend this divide, Van Jones is advocating for an inclusive approach to social activism. In an interview with HuffPost, he said, “I’m just as concerned about what’s going on in Appalachia as in South-Central Los Angeles. We’re concerned about people both parties have let down for decades.” With his We Rise tour, Jones is traveling to cities around the country to bring ”focus on our commonalities as opposed to our differences.” The first branch of the tour, which kicked off in L.A. last Wednesday, had Russell Simmons and Nick Cannon on a panel with local government and community leaders to talk politics and activism.

Jones' efforts to push progressives to empathize with the plight of Trump supporters has been controversial, and rightfully so. Still, the vocal activist warns against the temptation to villainize the other side saying, “It’s a lot easier to say, ‘Screw Trump and anyone who voted for him…but the problem is it doesn’t create a job or close a prison.” Jones goes on to say that he wants to push people beyond partisan lines. “Part of what’s happened is everybody feels a sense of crisis ― economically, geopolitically ― but instead of turning to each other, we’re turning on each other,” he said.

Sales from the tour’s tickets ― ranging from a low of $17 in Las Vegas to a high of $216 in Miami ― will benefit Jones’ non-profit, The Dream Corps.