OPINIONS/EDITORIALS
EDITORIAL America's Silver Bullet When the polls closed last week following the general election for the next U.S. President, three things were made perfectly clear, at least for most, excluding Donald Trump. First, the record-breaking turnout demonstrated that democracy is not dead in America and that the right candidate, with the right message, can win with the right support for those who believe it. Second, America's system of democracy works despite a weak postal system, a hodge-podge of voting procedures from one state to another, and despite a pandemic. The promise that every vote cast was, no matter how early or up to the latest deadline, and in some cases, is still being counted. And, as the nation watches day after day, they are seeing how much their vote matters. Third, and the most important, is the result of last week's vote and the undeniably impactful, influential, pivotal, and decisive role Black women played in getting out the historic vote in 2020. From the moment President-elect Biden won the nomination of the Democratic Party on Aug. 20, Black women organized to lay the groundwork for a woman to be named VP. Thousands signed petitions to make their wishes, or better yet, their demands heard. They were clear that there were plenty of well-qualified women to fill the seat, but that a Black woman should be given the opportunity, and a Black woman should be selected. Sen. Kamala Harris was Biden's choice, and Black women celebrated although briefly before working to ensure victory in November. There were many foot soldiers in the Black women's movement, including Stacy Abrams, a voting rights activist, who spent little time licking her wounds following her loss in the 2018 Georgia gubernatorial race. She founded Fair Fight Action and crisscrossed the country to fight voter suppression wherever it was happening. Every Black sorority galvanized its forces to activate Black voters, and Black women elected officials harnessed the spotlight wherever they could to get all voters to the polls. Young Black female college students engaged, and women whose grandmothers and great grandmothers rocked white babies went to the polls to elect a Black woman to help lead the country. Vice President-elect Harris said she may be the first, but she won't be the last. And, President-elect Biden said he'll " be with us," as we have always been there for him. Biden and all of America must realize that Black women – the Democrats’ silver bullet – have good memories. They won't forget what they did to win this election and what must be done for them. WI
Schools Should Reopen but Only When It’s Safe for All For those without any “skin in the game,” the decision on when to reopen schools seems to have taken on the kind of divisiveness resembling the last four years in American politics and society. While one side asserts that schools resume in-class teaching because their children “deserve it,” the other side expresses their fear that with COVID-19 still raging out of control, reopening schools serves as a choice too dangerous to consider. In the District, Mayor Bowser has said that while there’s a plan in place, it will only work if teachers are persuaded that it can be done safely. We understand that teachers want to return to their classrooms and would rather be with their students and not continue in virtual settings. But teachers should not be forced to choose between their jobs and the welfare of their own health or that of their families. In Maryland and Virginia – two neighboring states where coronavirus infection rates and hospitalizations have within the last few days reached numbers not seen since June, there remain advocates on both sides of the fence. Some say reopening schools can be done safely if all prescribed protocols are enforced and followed. But that’s a big “if.” Meanwhile, as much as we all want to see life return to some semblance of normal, COVID-19 has forced us – all of us – to refrain from engaging in those practices and routines with which we’ve long grown familiar and comfortable. Perhaps it’s true that many children are not doing as well in their studies because
TO THE EDITOR Historic Coverage
I thought your cover last week was perfect. It wasn't The Washington Informer I was used to seeing, but change is good, especially for the most pivotal election of our time. Good work! Molly Simmons Washington, D.C.
Viable Alternatives?
I really enjoyed the story about third-party candidates. I've never in all my years of reading seen a story about these people who run in the election. It's quite interesting given the fact that they know they have no chance to win. Reading their perspective was eye-opening. I also enjoyed the history part of it as well. Ulysses Ward Washington, D.C.
they’re being taught in a virtual environment. Perhaps it’s accurate that children are struggling to adjust – many of them failing miserably despite their best efforts to conform. Certainly, many parents have grown weary and frustrated in their undesirable, sudden roles as teachers for their children – a job which they never realized could be so difficult. But in these extraordinary, unprecedented times, every life matters – students, of course, more than anyone else. But teachers
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and administrators and the families who live with them must also be considered – their lives matter just as much. We can ill-afford to reduce the decision to reopen schools and when to be based on anger, impatience or because of evidence which lacks scientific and medical support. Schools will open again and children will benefit from in-class instruction. But only when it’s safe for all concerned. We have not reached that moment yet. WI
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