Ours is a politically nonpartisan organization. But we are not politically uninterested. We cannot afford to be. From the moment the first cargo of enslaved black bodies was offloaded to these shores four centuries ago, our lives, our fortunes and our very personhood have been uniquely affected by politics. Never was that more the case than this year, 2020, and in the election of November 3.
For the last four years, we have watched with increasing dismay and anger as the worst American president since Andrew Johnson worked frenetically to undo much of the progress achieved by our people over the last 60 years, and in particular to erase the legacy of his immediate predecessor, the nation’s first African-American president, Barack Obama.
That Donald Trump remained a plausible candidate for a second term up until election day suggests just how strong are the forces that propelled him there the first time and that will continue to shape—and misshape—our politics in the years ahead. Happily, however, Trump himself has now been rejected. A new American majority—call them The Civilized Majority—have called a halt to his wrecking ball approach to governance, his flouting of norms of civility and basic human decency, his use of the bully pulpit of the presidency to propagate hatred and division and violence.
The 100 Black Men of Greater South Bend hails the decision of the American people, and rejoices especially in the election of the nation’s first African-American woman vice president. With Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, two fundamentally decent and competent persons, in our two highest offices, America can breathe again. With the nation focused forward, rather than backward toward some illusory past greatness, organizations like ours can be inspired to redouble our efforts to uplift our people and our communities.
May the new administration bring decency and competence back to our government and allow us once again to take pride in our nation and its leadership.