Joe Biden is now the 46th president of the United States and millions of Americans are breathing a collective sigh of relief, having survived the last four years of a Trump administration. For some, having someone who knows and respects the role of the presidency and Congress will lessen their anxiety. For others, having a man of faith who has experienced great tragedies in his life and yet still finds compassion and strength for others will be a welcomed addition to our leadership. In addition to a Biden presidency, having Kamala Harris as vice president and an incredibly diverse cabinet will aid in getting the country back on track and moving forward toward the unfulfilled ideals of this American project.
Joe Biden has a difficult road ahead and I believe patience will be necessary in the coming months. The Biden administration will need to undo so many of the policies of the previous administration, from the Muslim ban to climate change to foreign relations to overall negligence of communities across the country. The Biden administration will also have to deal with the rise of white supremacy that has been excavated in the last four years to levels this nation hasn’t seen in decades. The rabid supporters of Donald Trump have been motivated to “take back their country” and it is clear they are willing to do so by force. Trump’s four years of conspiracy theories and white nationalist rhetoric has created an environment that will make the Biden administration’s job so much more difficult.
We must also recognize that it will take the Biden administration some time to get the vaccine coordination under control. The transition process has been relatively nonexistent and the two months of briefings that should have occurred, just did not. The Trump administration and much of the Republican Party has shown that they are not interested in governance or the American people. They are interested in power and winning and have been fine letting thousands of Americans die each day in order to prevent the Biden administration from initially succeeding. They should be ashamed of themselves, but sadly they feel no shame.
As we usher in this new administration, hopefully we will feel committed to a successful new dawn by keeping realistic pressure on the administration but also by participating in local elections. By keeping our focus on local and national politics we can help create the democracy we want to see. For those of us who live in New York, the next few months we will have to keep our eye on the Biden administration as well as all of the local races ahead of us. As New York prepares for the election of a new mayor, comptroller, public advocate, borough presidents, district attorneys and city council members, we must remember that we can create the change we seek.
Christina Greer, Ph.D., is an associate professor at Fordham University, the author of “Black Ethnics: Race, Immigration, and the Pursuit of the American Dream,” and the co-host of the podcast FAQ-NYC and also What’s In It For Us podcast.
