Social Justice Movements and the Incoming Administration: The Stakes Are High
The Stakes Is High is a very popular rap song by rap group De La Soul. Recorded over a decade ago now, the song addresses social issues — and issues in the culture of the music industry — that are alarming, deserving of immediate attention, and paints pictures of where we are in trouble in this country. The song, timely, remains evident and important when we consider issues of today and how much more pressure we will experience with the incoming administration.
If we are solely to look at racism, we know we are up against a strong fight when it comes to the continuance of marginalization, policing of Black lives, as well as the mistreatment of Black, Latinx, and Asian populations here in the United States of America. Neo-Nazi groups are committing racial violence increasingly. Hate crimes have been on the rise since the incoming president was in office the first time.
As organizations such as the ACLU document these hate crimes and as we witness racial violence in the form of police violence in Black and brown communities, we are at a crossroads where it is us and them — the us is further stretched to accomplices or allies who have judged in on the fight as resistance to hate crimes, police violence, and racial terrorism.
However, racism is but only one element of the large social justice stratosphere.
Sexism is playing out even more in a Trump-dominated political world. Masked and unmasked human rights violation, are political appointments where some of these so-called leaders are perpetrators who clearly see this world as a man’s world. James Brown’s song with the same title has snuck back into common thought in communities, neighborhoods, and on our televisions as this very sexist administration prepares to take power again.
What kind of civil world do we want young girls, ladies, and women living in when there are harsh, empathetic men controlling politics in this country? What kinds of roadmaps can we build together to secure the safety of women in this country?
It is sad to see the aggressive pushback of and policing of the LGBTQ+ community today. Large corporations — especially some of their CEOs — have joined in this fight to smear or destroy the lives of this community. If the upcoming administration is to be stopped with this kind of mindset, we are going to have to become increasing allies or accomplices for the LGBTQ+ community. Our voices are needed, as well as our actions.
Immediate actions will be taken in regard to environmental controls and movements this country has made some strides in. The incoming administration will go to extremes to roll back greenhouse gas initiatives and the like to strike back at previous administration’s efforts. We will indeed live in a dirtier, unhealthy world when the new administration sits down to bite its teeth into environmental issues and the like.
Simply put, we will need unified fronts, louder voices on bullhorns, a commitment from many left leaning or liberal political and social justice organizations, as well as a willingness to go to jail for some of what we are fighting for or believe in. The incoming administration will not make it easy for those of us who do not think like them. Project 2025 will make sure of this!
Whether you are fighting for the health of the planet, fighting for LGBTQ+ rights, immigrants' rights, for Black Lives Matter, or reproductive rights and other similar issues, the road ahead is going to be rough. Everything we believe in we will be fighting for, fighting to keep, or fighting to sustain as people who want to be on the right side of justice.
What organizations are you aligning with?
Does your church believe in or practice sanctuary for justice seekers and the like?
Are you a part of networks who share basic items needed for survival?
Who is in your tribe? Meaning who is in your circle you trust, will work with, and will defend or help you in your time of need?
All of these questions you, me will need to have definite answers to in the coming weeks and months to live in a just world.
Copyright Christopher D. Sims
All rights reserved
12/08/2024
