At the time of writing this column, we do not yet know the outcome of the 2024 presidential election. I have been fielding nervous calls and texts from friends for weeks now. Many are concerned about the future of this country, others are worried about our role internationally, and many have an overall sense of dread, thinking about how divisive this country has become. What has helped keep me calm these past few weeks has been to remind myself that all is in divine order.
No matter the result of the outcome, we must recognize that there is a long road ahead. Millions upon millions of Americans worship the cult of the 45th president and are wholly incapable of recognizing the importance, necessity, and beauty of the diversity that exists in this country. Many (if not most) Americans are disillusioned with the state of political parties and do not feel they are representing the people’s myriad interests. No matter the ultimate outcome of the election, we have a nation divided and possibly a Congress divided as well, within and across parties.
Where do we go from here? No matter what, we must continue to stay invested in our political futures. Whether our preferred candidate wins or the candidate we opposed is victorious, we must continue to keep the pressure on our electeds so they know they must pay attention to our voices. So many Democrats are concerned the party is moving too far to the center (and even the right) and is getting more calcified as a moderate party and ignoring its progressive wing. And many Republicans feel their party has been hijacked by one man who caters to his radical right wing base and refuses to compromise with moderate members of their own party.
Politics does not stop with an election. We must remember to stay engaged with policy and politicians even when the campaign season has ended. For New Yorkers, once 2025 rolls around, we will also be gearing up for municipal elections and most importantly, a very crowded mayor’s race.
These next few weeks and months leading up to the inauguration on January 20 will be filled with lots of emotions. I am planning on getting together with a group of Black women in the upcoming weeks to fortify myself and be around the energy of these powerful women. If you are feeling lost, confused, unmoored, or anxious, I strongly suggest coming up with a plan for yourself. Is it spending quality time with friends? Is it turning away from the news for a spell? Is it coming up with a political plan for the local election cycle? Whatever it is, take the time to replenish yourself.
Christina Greer, Ph.D., is an associate professor at Fordham University; author of “Black Ethnics: Race, Immigration, and the Pursuit of the American Dream,” co-host of the podcast FAQ-NYC, and author of the forthcoming book “How to Build a Democracy: From Fannie Lou Hamer and Barbara Jordan to Stacey Abrams.”