An Assault on America's Democracy

Podcast: Politics

An Assault on America’s Democracy

We can’t say we didn’t know that there was a subculture in this country, fearful and angry at the “browning of America. Data from multiple sources(https://www.brookings.edu/blog/the-avenue/2018/03/14/the-us-will-become-minority-white-in-2045-census-projects/; https://www.brookings.edu/research/new-census-data-shows-the-nation-is-diversifying-even-faster-than-predicted/ https://www.census.gov/newsroom/releases/archives/2010_census/cb11-cn125.html) consistently show that the demographics of the nation are and have been changing. Data show those identifying as Hispanics continue to grow, and the numbers of African Americans remain constant, The White population continues to decrease. Asian and Pacific Islander numbers are increasing albeit less vigorously. The number of Native Americans is also declining.

The news reports following the marches in Charlottesville, and the investigations and reports that followed, alerted millions of Americans to the evil lurking in the land. For People of Color throughout the United States, however, the news was not new. Exposés following the killing of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri laid bare the militarization of local police forces, the gross policing inequities in many American cities, and the pervasive and longstanding pattern of racial injustice that has been an underpinning of American democracy since its inception.

The Biden administration provides a serious opportunity at the federal level for more than conversation. Communities must be ready. We must all be the change we want to see. The first step is to appreciate that our votes do count. We must rid our systems of politicians who do not serve our best interests. We know who they are at the local, state, and federal levels. We must make a concerted effort to vote them out.of office. More importantly, we must choose wisely those we want to replace them. This is true for Democrats and Republicans.

Much has been written and even more said. Now is the time for major coordinated action.

These are historic times. Let’s make the most of it. Stay tuned.