Opinion

The tumultuous 2020 presidential election triggered a record number of participating voters. Never before had so many people cast their preferences. And similarly, together substantiated how divided the nation is. 

How to explain one of the greatest ironies of American politics? That is, how Trump — a guy that almost no one in the GOP political establishment likes — owns and runs that establishment lock, stock and barrel.

Now that the 2020 election is over, people have been celebrating in the streets across America. But as we survey the rubble that is left of an America battered by the last four years under a Trump administration, we see there is a lot of work to be done.

In an informal poll on my Facebook page, I asked, “Now that there’s the likelihood of a COVID vaccine soon will you get vaccinated?” There were dozens of responses. Most of those responding was Black. Most said no.

The Black voter turnout dropped in the 2016 presidential election to 59.6%. This was 7 points lower than the rate of 66.6% four years earlier in 2012. Analysts have concluded that this drop enabled Trump to win four years ago. Some have also concluded that the drop resulted from the loss of Black male voters who had been tricked by digital ads that caused them to lose support for Hillary Clinton.

Ever since Trump first took the Oval Office, this has been virtually written in political stone: The prototype Trump-backer is a poorly educated, KKK or white-nationalist-loving slob of a blue-collar white male worker or farmer in the backwoods of the Deep South or Midwest who alternately fears and loathes Blacks, Hispanics, gays, liberals of all stripes, former President Obama and big government.

Disparate views on patriotism will continue to divide Blacks and Trumpites, even while a sense of patriotism increases the relationship between Blacks and President Biden. In an earlier statement Biden said “I think about what it takes for a Black person to love America. That is a deep love for this country that has for far too long never been recognized.”

We are entering a critical time in this pandemic, and everyone who does their part will help save lives, and make a real difference.

This was an unfortunate year to propose the change because Trump had been suggesting irregularities in the election system. Many voters were understandably skittish.

Harris represents many firsts: woman, black, Indian American, child of immigrants, HBCU graduate, and if there are more, forgive me.

Blacks turned out for Biden in massive numbers in November. This solid vote was critical in many states, and Trump was able to tally only 71 million votes, primarily from disgruntled whites.

Thousands of viewers have watched a Facebook/YouTube clip of a knife-welding young man brandishing his weapon menacingly at a knot of Colombian police officers. The man taunted, waved his knife, and even lunged at officers. The officers cordoned him off, waited patiently, and continued to talk to him. The stand-off ended when one officer rushed the suspect from behind with a deft move that knocked the knife out of his hand. He was quickly subdued. Neither he, the officers, or any civilians were injured. Why is he alive, then, and Walter Wallace Jr. isn’t?