We’re not out of the woods, America

Jan. 20 marked the end of an era and the end of an error for America. Joe Biden was officially inaugurated as the president of the United States, and while it may be a victory, it’s not time to sit back and relax. Celebrating the new administration and the significance of Kamala Harris is OK, but pretending the country’s problems are solved isn’t.

For four years, Donald Trump and his administration backpedaled on years of social progress and acted in ways that hurt the American people, specifically the LGBTQ+ community, immigrants and people of color. Trump barred transgender people from the military, announcing on Twitter that they would not be allowed to serve “in any capacity” July 26, 2017. On day six of his presidency, Biden reversed this order. Upon election, Trump immediately banned refugees of seven predominantly-Muslim countries from entering the U.S. On day one of his presidency, Biden reversed this order.

And throughout his entire presidency, Trump created a violent rhetoric targeting Black Americans and people of color, exemplifying this by pushing the “thug” narrative on Black protesters but refusing to hold white rioters to the same standard, instead telling the domestic terrorists at the Capitol that he loved them and that they were very special.

Even before being elected, Biden has promised the American people that he would make concrete efforts to combat systemic racism and work toward unity. He has already taken some action steps, including signing executive orders to eliminate private prisons, promote fair housing policies, address xenophobia toward the Asian American community and improve communication with Indigenous tribes. These steps are promising, but they’re not everything. You don’t change a country built on racism with a few executive orders.

You also don’t end racism with a Black woman in office. Harris’ win serves as a beautiful achievement for Black people and women, as it should. For many, Harris signifies hope, achievement, progress. It is a big deal. But let’s not forget that before she was Biden’s shining vice president pick, she was a tough, law-and-order prosecutor whose harsh decisions hurt the Black community around her.

Our problems are not solved. There are still many communities in the U.S. that are going to reject new policies and new progress, including our own, red Nodaway County. Residents in areas like this one are the exact reasons we must remain diligent in our demand for change or else we will go stagnant. Trump supporters had their dangerous ideologies normalized and uplifted for four years, and a progressive president doesn’t mean an automatic utopia free of racism. We must hold the new administration accountable and continue to fight for equity. Just because it’s better doesn’t mean it’s perfect.