47 is here. What’s next?

By John Thomas III, Ph.D., Editor

When I went to bed on the evening of November 5 around midnight, it was already clear the former President Donald J. Trump would become President-Elect Donald J. Trump. A felon convicted 34 times over who had instigated an assault on the United States Capitol not only won the presidency, but in a convincing manner. We would learn that the “Blue wall” collapsed, and the Republicans would regain control of the Senate and eke out a close victory in the House of Representatives.

How did this happen?

The polls were indeed close, but this result was within the margin of error—just not a result that many of us hoped for. While exit polling tells us that there was a noticeable shift in the country towards the President-elect compared to 2020, a deeper dive shows a more complex situation. . The Republican candidate did better with non-College educated voters who make $30,000-$100,000 while the Democratic candidates did better with college educated voters and those making above $100,000. Democrats won the lowest percentage of Latinos since 2004, and a majority Latino men voted for the Republican candidate. In North Carolina, Michigan, Arizona and Nevada, Democrats were able to win statewide elections—yet Vice President Harris did not win those states.

Consultants, doctoral students and pundits will be conducting analyses for months and years. The fact remains that the person who promised that he would be a “dictator on day one” will be inaugurated on January 20th. He has selected a cabinet of people largely embodying the principles of kakistocracy (rule by the incompetent) sprinkled with competent underlings who will show us just how real Project 2025 is. 

As we grapple with four years of 47, I share these points to guide the AME Church’s thoughts.

1)           Place the season in context. As history professor Nikole Hannah Jones pointed out on her X page, the United States has only experienced 60 years of a true multiracial democracy. We know from the experience of Reconstruction that when there is a democratic opening for people of color in this country, the pendulum swings back strongly towards white supremacy. The attacks on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiatives, Voting Rights and Affirmative Action should be seen not as piecemeal but as part of a coordinated effort to halt the small gains made against institutional racism.

2)           Understand what MAGA means. “Make America Great Again” was first coined by President Ronald Reagan in his 1980 Presidential Campaign. It was then and is now the epitome of dog whistle politics. What is shifting, however, is who believes that America needs to be “great” again. The allure of MAGA is that it means different things to different people. President-elect Trump’s base appeal to xenophobia and toxic masculinity found ears even in Black and Latino communities who are tired of seeing “others” getting ahead or taking “shortcuts”. Yet one look at President-elect Trump’s cabinet tells people of color and women where their appropriate place is in the MAGA hierarchy. 

3)           Remember our Neighbors. Did Donald Trump win because his message was powerful or because Kamala Harris’s message was not persuasive? This question will be at the core of Democratic Party recriminations for a while yet. What is clear is that the average American who voted for Donald Trump is not an avowed white nationalist who wears a red hat and wants to root out the deep state. Legitimate concerns about growing inequality and lack of opportunity for many working-class Americans are what motivated many persons to vote for a candidate whose policy plans if fully enacted would cause long-term damage to health and economic welfare of millions of Americans. In this season, we must remember that the Church’s mission is to be the light to our community, and we must embrace all our neighbors through our ministry and programs. We must show who we believe God to be.

4)           Remember that all politics is local. From 2016-2020, we saw a administration that left us exhausted keeping up with the chaos coming out from Washington DC through tweets, statements, and the 24 hour news cycle. We must conserve our energy and play the long game to deal with the next four years. One sure way is to remember that “all politics is local”. We must as a denomination be engaged in our city, county, and state governments. We must communicate with public officials, show up to meetings, educate ourselves and take to the streets when needed.  While many of us live in “Red States” where we find ourselves in the political minority, the majority is counting on us to be complacent and frustrated. We must look for the victories where we can find them and stand up for what we know to be right.

5)           Practice what we preach in the AME Church. Misogyny, xenophobia, racism and homophobia all reared their ugly heads in the 2024 campaign. While the AME Church collectively called out these sins, we must be on guard against them within our own denomination. The same spirit that leads the President-elect to attack enemies and run roughshod over checks and balances can manifest itself in our congregations and auxiliaries if we are not vigilant. The discussions on LGBTQ+ inclusion that stalled at the 2024 General Conference must continue and we cannot allow fear and pride to keep us from making decisions that will help to heal our AME Church family. We must continually be on guard against the rampant misogyny that continues to impact our clergy ranks at all levels as we push for equitable opportunities for women in ministry. We must not let xenophobia and racism keep us from embracing all our constituencies and making sure that our leadership reflects the global nature of our denomination—with respect for seniority and ability.

These next four years will be an inflection point of democracy in the United States. Where the country will be after this period is unclear. But we do know that we serve an all-knowing God who equips us with His word to be our guide. So, let us remember Jesus’s admonition in Matthew 10:16 “I am sending you out like sheep into the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.”