An American Reckoning

The 2020 US election raises profound questions for America. Despite fears of possible external interference, civic apathy and a raging pandemic, a groundswell of citizens, organizations and communities mobilized across the country. An historic percentage of voters cast their ballots in an election deemed the most secure in American history. However, despite abusing his executive powers and pursuing a politics marked by racism, incompetence and a contempt for truth, Trump retained the support of tens of millions. Indeed, he expanded his base among historically marginalized citizens. Today, the degree of hostility between Democrats and Republicans, and the degree of polarization among their supporters, appears even sharper than when he took office. The outcome of the 2020 election shows that its future remains at stake.

What is the place of social movements and political organizing in our democracies? How does the political approach and impact of the Movement for Black Lives compare to previous iterations of the Black liberation struggle in the U.S.? And what lessons should we learn from our current political moment?