CHANGE IS COMING- KEEP WORKING

November marks one year since the 2024 presidential election.  Many people were disappointed with the results, while others celebrated.  There have been countless analyses by pundits and practitioners who profess to know about all things political as to why the results were as they were.   The simple fact is that there were people who would not suppress their prejudices and biases, and would not vote for a Black woman.

While looking back will not change the results, I invite you to think about the enthusiasm that gripped the nation when Vice President Harris began her campaign.  There was energy in the  people as they considered the possibilities.  Her qualifications were clear, her ideas were diverse, equitable, and inclusive.  A lot of supporters, and even non-supporters could see the basis for a brighter future.  Even the mainstream media, as much as they tried, could not diminish the enthusiasm.  Reflect for a moment on the Democratic National Convention in August, 2024.  People that I talked to said they’d never witnessed such an enthusiastic, entertaining, and inclusive political convention.  Many of those same people were all but certain that on January 20th, 2025, President Harris would be sworn in, and the United States of America would continue the journey towards a more prosperous union for all of its citizens.

It didn’t happen, and the last ten months have been filled with chaos, confusion, corruption, and incompetence.  Prices are higher and opportunities are fewer.  Hard-working people are losing their homes and hard-working farmers are losing their livelihoods.  Again, revisiting the election won’t change any of that, but for just a moment it’s okay to think about where we could be if the results had been different.

So, what do we do?  We keep moving forward.  I hear too many people try to comfort themselves by suggesting, “We only got to put up with this for three more years.” or “Things will change after the mid-term elections.”  In reality, we have no idea what The Universe has planned.  We don’t know when change will come, but the Universe guarantees that it will.  That doesn’t mean you just sit back and wait until it does.  Instead, like-minded people have to continue to work together to create a society where people are kind and considerate to each other; where diversity is understood and valued; where equal opportunity returns to both the C-Suites and the college classrooms; where all children have access to quality education, sufficient nutrition, and effective health care.  The Hope and Faith that was the catalyst for the enthusiasm before the election, has to be the same Hope and Faith that continually regenerates that enthusiasm until the change comes.

The stress that people feel is real.  They wonder if, or when things will get better.  There is a spiritual written by R. Nathaniel Dett that the Elders used to sing named “I’m So Glad”.  The first line of the song is, “I’m so glad that trouble don’t last always.”  The song was written in 1924.  Think about all the trouble that has come and gone since then.    

Change is coming.  The Universe assures it.  Keep working.