With inauguration on the horizon, Honeysuckle is taking a moment to look back on reactions to the 2020 Election. While some were overjoyed with President-Elect Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris heading to the White House, others felt disillusioned and ambivalent, at best.
Both Joe Biden and Kamala Harris have a history of racial oppression and incarceration. We hope some of the current progressive movements and the climate crisis will force much-needed change in many critical arenas.
The disillusionment of marginalized and disenfranchised communities is something we need to pay careful attention to, if not for empathy’s sake alone. A society where people don’t feel represented opens itself to vulnerabilities such as division and fascism; the latter being a condition many believe was imminent with the Trump administration.
As Joe Biden begins to appoint his inner circles of cabinet members and advisors, we must not forget to hold our authorities accountable. It’s their decisions that affect the lives of many. Just like your vote counted during the 2020 election, it is your duty to speak up about issues that matter to you. It is your duty to speak up for others, regardless whether a particular situation directly affects you or not.
Silence is Violence.