COMMENTARY: A Reflection of the 46th President’s Inauguration Speech

On January 20, 2021, the United States of America witnessed what is called an attempt for healing- a healing of the core soul of America. Putting all politics aside, I firmly believe that, “One person can ignite a fire to bring about real, fundamental changes, not only for this nation, but the world.” President Joseph Biden, Jr. delivered an impressive, profound speech, that moved me to reflect upon this great moment of history. A moment in which, one of our very own, a WOMAN, Vice President Kamala Harris, became the first female to place her hand on the Bible, to be sworn in as the 46^th Vice President of the United States of America. A woman first, but also a black woman, a Caribbean woman- a phenomenal woman! The Caribbean’s greatest artiste, Jamaica’s Bob Marley, would have been exceedingly proud. I could hear him sing, “No woman no cry, no woman no cry.” Our time has come, as we take our place as WOMEN. What a glorious, empowered and empowering moment this was for me as a Black Caribbean, American, professional woman. Women globally are beaming with pride. Caribbean women all over are sharing her sweet smile of victory- a victory for all of us.

                                 As I Ponder upon the Vision for America with Race Relations

Watching the handsome men in uniforms, listening to the music, seeing the red courts and observing the salutes, the pride and dignity of it all brings a feeling of hope.  Hope for my fellow black people here in America.  For too long, the spirit of our people has been broken. Is this truly our knight in shining armor? What makes him different from any other president? Is forty-six (46) a lucky number?  W.E.B. Du Bois, the Big White Elephant in the Room, echoed, “You see, the core of America’s failure is in its race relationships.” According to the young, beautiful, brilliant, black poet and Harvard Graduate, Amanda Gorman, “We need to go back to the place where racism can be eradicated from this American society and soul of America.” Can we truly address racial injustice in this great nation? Is this the vision for this 46^th President? Will he, too, like former President Lincoln, state, “If my name goes down in history let it be for this one thing?” According to the 46^th President, “A nation is only as strong as its spirit.” So too, as a people, can our spirit be strengthened?  Does every one truly matter? Does everyone really have a voice? Will our government listen to the cries of our people, “Black lives matter?” “The dream of justice can no longer be deferred”, President Joe Biden. Will America truly begin to right the wrong? Can America truly treat black with dignity and respect? Can we start a fresh America?  “I promise you, I get it,” President Joe Biden remarked.

Will there be a Delivery this Time of America’s Promises?

“Democracy is fragile and precious,” posited the 46^th president of the United State. “Precious”, according to the Western Dictionary, means, “highly esteemed, cherished, or of great value.” The fragility of

America must first acknowledge the suffering of our people. The greatest appeal of the Civil Right Movement is to do the right thing for the cause of justice and freedom everywhere. According to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.” He further warned, “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.” The idea is that if it matters enough, it will be burning for us to remain silent- if it matters enough, we will not be able to keep silent. Each one must use his/her voice. Each one must make their own small change. Gandhi perfectly declared, “be the change you wish to see in the world.”  According to our 46^th President, “We all strive for those common elements: opportunity, diversity, security, respect and truth.” These very elements, my people, are often denied for the fear factor, but they significantly affect every, single, one of us, and thus, must be satisfied. I am reminded of the saying, “He who fears he will suffer, already suffers because he fears.”- Michel De Montaigne. These sentiments were reinforced by Winston Churchill when he said, “Fear is a reaction. Courage is a decision.” He further continued, “A nation that forgets its past has no future.” This brings me to Rev Dr. Silvester Beaman, the President’s friend and confidant, who gave the benediction in prayer at the inauguration, who echoed the feeling of many in a time in history, when so many people, especially Black Americans, are grieving and suffering in a nation, riddled with wretched uncertainties. He said, “We must acknowledge sin and seek forgiveness.” I believe this statement represents the values of this incoming administration.

In closing, I reflect on a great woman, Margaret Thatcher, referred to as the, “Iron Woman”, the longest serving Prime Minister of England.  She was also the first woman to ever hold such an office in England. She once said, “America, my friends, is the only country in the world actually founded on liberty. The only one- people went to America to be free.”  The prominent South African, civil right leader, Nelson Mandela, once said, “There can be no keener revelation of a society’s soul than the way in which it treats its children.” Can America rise to the occasion for my people, to stamp out systematic and systemic racism, poverty, insecurities, and injustice? According to Nelson Mandela, “the way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing.” “I got it,” repeated President Biden.

A Call to Action

I hold fast to poet, Amanda Gorman’s words, from the 2021 Inauguration, “there is always light if only we are brave enough to see it, if only we are brave enough to be it.” The great Nelson Mandela would have echoed his sentiments, “real leaders must be ready to sacrifice all for the freedom of their people.” Will America rise to the occasion to make the wrong right for my people? According to President Biden, he will- the time has come, and justice cannot be differed.  What truly will be America’s legacy in racial issues? Can this really be the era of redemption? Can America answer the call to our voices in the wind crying for our freedom and dignity? “The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.”- Confucius.  America, show me things can really change. Winston Church perfectly put it, “I cannot change the world but I can cast a stone across the water to create many ripples.” Psalm 30:5 says, “Weeping may endure for the night but joy cometh in the morning.”- The sentiments of the 46^th President, Joe Biden. We, as black Americans, we watch, we wait, we pray and we hope.  According to one of America’s greatest presidents, President Barack Obama, “Hope is the bedrock of this nation; the belief that our destiny will not be written for us, but by us.” One word, according to President Biden, which sums up America, is, POSSIBILITIES. May God bless the United State of America, our great nation.

“I am fundamentally an optimist.”- Nelson Mandela.

Dr. Sheila Newton Moses- Founder of Caribbean Council for Economic Development (CCFED); President of Invest Caribbean Now (ICN); Graduate of Columbia University, Saint Peter’s University and Seton Hall University.

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