The U.S elections brought North America great worry as we patiently waited for the announcement of the new president of the United States. Donald Trump was in office for the past four years, which more than half of the American population heavily disliked him for his lack of consideration in regards to social issues. Joe Biden served as vice president when Barack Obama was in office from 2008-2016, and it definitely felt like a more joyous and enjoyable time. As Joe Biden is going to be inaugurated as the 45th president of the United States in January alongside Kamala Harris as the first woman of colour vice president, what is the new outlook for America? What changes are going to be made for the betterment of the country and its citizens? These are important questions to consider when discussing the future of America.
Kamala Harris is the first Black/Brown woman in history to ever be elected as vice president. She consists of two marginalized identities, being both racialized and a woman. Racism and sexism have been ongoing issues in American society, which the people that experience systemic discrimination often feel unrecognized and betrayed. They’re constantly encountering obstacles that restrict them from being prosperous, and they frequently lose hope. Harris being elected could mean a lot for them, particularly young women of colour that are optimistic about what they can become in their futures. Women in general in United States history weren’t even allowed to vote, and racialized women couldn’t even acquire the same wages as white women. Black women were very degraded and invisible in American society after emancipation, in which they could finally live their lives as “free” women. But the laws did not work in their favour, or did they for any racialized person.
Marginalized communities have fallen victim to encountering prejudice, racism, sexism, homophobia, islamophobia and etc. But these presidential elections could have a positive impact on the way these people are viewed in relation to Trump who subtly encouraged these biased perspectives. We’ve become desensitized to the ill-treatment that these communities face, and Kamala Harris can be an example of a marginalized person that is a role model and successful in America. She was able to attain something that was never previously considered, and that is enough for the younger generation to be reassured that changes are being made to create a more inclusive and progressive American society.