Right now we have found ourselves in a time where almost anything in the country can be somehow related back to the Presidential Election. From COVID-19 and economic changes to racial injustices and oppression, the state of our country is constantly changing and the 2020 Presidential race has already proven to hold more tension and pressure as a of result of it. These topics, along with many others, were the pressing points that were addressed in the recent debate. Political affiliation and opinions aside, both candidates made claims that sent the media and social platforms into a spiral. In particular, President Trump made several comments regarding the pressing racial injustices that the country is facing. In reference to the Proud Boys, a white supremacist group, Trump claimed that they should “Stand back and stand by,” encouraging rather than denouncing their actions and mantra. He also made statements about his contributions to “ending systemic racism”, which is rather contradictory to his opinion on the Proud Boys. As the leader of the free world, his words and his actions hold even more power than anyone else. As a wealthy Caucasian man, to make a statement about ending oppression in America is rather ironic. As someone who does not directly experience the hardships that are faced by minority groups, it is not only ignorant to claim that they no longer exist, but it is also counter productive for the Country’s wellbeing. As such a powerful figure and a member of the majority groups of the nation, it is his responsibility to be even more open minded and empathetic to their situations, and it is oppression in itself to turn a blind eye to them. Trumps refusal to denounce these groups or acknowledge the larger issue feeds into the issue of systemic injustice. Moving to a larger picture, how can we expect the problems within our country’s infrastructure to be fixed when the leader of our country doesn’t believe they exist? Whether we are discussing police brutality, the broken prison system, or the entry barriers to higher education. Large issues like this can only be solved by someone willing to work towards change, something we are clearly lacking in our presidency. While during the Civil Rights movement John Lewis and Martin Luther King were working towards equal rights and a ban on segregation. Today’s fight has several similarities, the minorities in this country are being oppressed by the man who is meant to be the leader of the free world. Trump absolutely condemns these actions in the fight for justice, however he has gone as far as defending Kenosha shooter, Kyle Rittenhouse. While at the same time showing little sympathy for innocent victims of police brutality. The systemic injustices in this country cannot be solved until there is someone in a position of power who is willing to put in the effort to do so.
I agree with your essay that the president does not recognize the big issue within our nation of racial injustices that the country is facing. Also, he makes the comment of supporting the “Proud Boys” then contradicts himself by saying statements about his contributions to “ending systemic racism”. In this last debate, he made the comment of being the least racist person in the room. Wrong! If he is willing to support the Proud Boys and groups like them, he is far from being the least racist person in the room. Your last sentence is spot on, “The systemic injustices in this country cannot be solved until there is someone in a position of power who is willing to put in the effort to do so.”
It is poor leadership on his part. He blames all problems on others and does not want to resolve any issues. He is willing to point fingers instead of saying, “let’s fix this.” This is a narcissist. It is an election year and he will say just about anything if it will give him a vote.
I absolutely agree that this country needs leadership that, even if they cannot say they experience racism personally, is willing to admit its existence. Unfortunately, a man both wealthy and white is more likely to believe that his privilege is the result of his hard work and nothing else. It also does not help that the majority of his support base believes the same. Even if he does recognize that systemic racism exists, he would never admit to it and risk alienating his supporters. Correcting systemic injustice is not an easy task, but having leadership who is willing to undertake that effort is a good start.