The day has arrived. On January 20, 2021, Joe Biden became the 46th President of the United States. For the first time in US history, Vice President Kamala Harris became the first Black and South Asian American woman to hold the position.
As the doors opened and Madam Vice President Kamala Harris walked down the stairs of Capitol Hill with Mr. Doug Emhoff, the nation watched in awe as she knelt to kiss her daughter through her mask. Looking up to the sky, Harris could be seen taking in this moment in history.
Soon after, President Joe Biden and Dr. Jill Biden walked down those same stairs, briefly stopping to say hello to Barack and Michelle Obama. According to CNN, Trump followed the tradition of leaving a note for Biden but was not in attendance at the inauguration.
Beautiful performances by Lady Gaga, Jennifer Lopez, Amanda Gorman, Garth Brooks graced the stage to commemorate the important event.
In a poem by Amanda Gorman, she describes the powerful reality of many in the Black community by stating that “we’ve braved the belly of the beast, we’ve learned that quiet isn’t always peace, and the norms and notion of what just is, isn’t always just-ice.”
After Harris and Biden were officially sworn in, Biden stepped up to the podium to deliver an emotional speech to the nation. Biden made a pause for a “silent prayer” directed towards the many lives that were lost to the horrific COVID-19 disease.
Throughout Biden’s speech, he highlighted the important value of America that was lost during the Trump administration; the value of unity and uplifting the voices of the unheard.
“Today we celebrate the triumph, not of a candidate, but a cause, the cause of democracy. The people, the will of the people, has been heard, and the will of the people has been heeded. We’ve learned again that democracy is precious. Democracy is fragile. And at this hour, my friends, democracy has prevailed. So now, on this hallowed ground, where just a few days ago violence sought to shake the Capitol’s very foundation, we come together as one nation under God, indivisible, to carry out the peaceful transfer of power as we have for more than two centuries,” as said by President Joe Biden during his Inauguration speech.
Continuing, Biden thanks his predecessors before him and gracefully speaks of the “American story” and how it “depends not on any one of us, not on some of us, but on all of us…we’ve come so far, but we still have far to go.”
Isn’t that the truth? This nation has come far, but let this nation not forget what it was built on and what it continues to show itself as; hiding behind the veil of lies and deception. Weeks ago, an insurrection occurred that resulted in death and chaos.
Last summer, the Black community fought for their rights only to be met with zero self-restraint from law enforcement. “We still have far to go” is an understatement.
The nation is hopeful for this new administration, but the Black community remains hesitant until there is an action made within racial justice and police reform.
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