The 2024 Election: A Divisive Verdict on America's Identity and the Democrats' Dilemma
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By Aaron Sincere Kershaw
On November 6, 2024, the day after Americans cast their votes to decide who would become the next President of the United States, those identifying as MAGA Movement's disciples woke up feeling vindication. Vindicated that after four years of calling foul, alleging erroneously that Democrats and their minions stole the 2020 election, they now can drink "libtears," once again, as Donald Trump secured a second term as President. If we are to learn anything, Americans must view this shocking 2024 Presidential election result as a referendum on America's underlying values. Beyond being a culmination of voters' policy preferences, Trump's re-election sends a clear message about the divisions that define American life today. More significant than a declaration of pro-life vs. pro-choice or pro vs. anti-union, Trump's resurgence exposes the cancerous prevalence of racism, misogyny, and bigotry while also highlighting the Democratic Party's struggle to live up to its own very lofty ideals. The result was a reckoning for both parties: the Republicans' win reaffirmed a traditional social hierarchy of white male dominance, while the Democrats faced a harsh lesson on the consequences of failing to bridge their rhetoric with meaningful action.
Idealism vs. Reality: The Democratic Party's Struggles
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Throughout Trump's first term, the Democratic Party sought to distinguish itself as the moral counterpoint to his administration. They championed issues such as universal healthcare and minimum wage reform, believing these would resonate with voters seeking a fairer and more inclusive society. In 2020, while serving as a U.S. Senator, Kamala Harris ran for President on a highly progressive platform that included Medicare for All, ending cash bail—which disproportionately affected low-income individuals and people of color—police reform, sentencing reform, a $15 per hour minimum wage, and the Green New Deal. However, over time, Harris's idealism, along with that of her party, often clashed with political realities, and compromises began to erode their credibility. Fast forward to October 2023. As the acting Vice President under President Joe Biden, Harris faced a significant test of that credibility amid a long-standing Middle Eastern conflict repositioned front and center in domestic American politics.
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Since Martin Luther King Jr. and his wife, Coretta Scott King, endorsed John F. Kennedy for supporting the Civil Rights Movement, the Democrats have projected a moral high ground regarding civil rights and, by extension, human rights. However, the issue of Palestine—a topic that any Democratic presidential candidate would typically want to avoid—became highly contentious following the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7. This brutal attack drew swift condemnation, and Israel, as an American ally, received the expected support. The complexities of this conflict warrant a more profound discussion at another time. The critical point is that nowhere was the clash between Democratic ideals and actions more pronounced than in the party's response to the Gaza crisis, where, despite a pro-peace stance, the Biden/Harris administration's actions and inactions alienated many within their base as the death totals of Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza (primarily children) grew.
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When the crisis unfolded, there was a public outcry for clear and unwavering support for Palestinian human rights on the political left. Still, the Democratic response was fragmented, balancing diplomatic ties with humanitarian concerns. For voters who had looked to the Democrats as champions of social justice, this response was a betrayal, exposing the gap between the party's rhetoric and its actions. To those already disillusioned by the Democrats' compromises on universal health care, student debt, and the $15 minimum wage, this was the last straw. The party had hoped that Trump's track record would make a decisive case to voters. But for many, the Democrats' shortcomings on crucial issues made them appear no different than Trump, especially to those voting with their consciences and on matters of global justice.
The Symbolic Impact of Trump's Re-Election
Trump's victory was more than a political outcome; it was symbolic. It represented the endurance of a mindset many thought was fading—a belief system that resists social progress in favor of preserving traditional hierarchies. For some Americans, the vote was a way to signal their discomfort with demographic changes and the shifting power dynamics in America. It also rejected ideals they believed did not represent their values or address their needs. By voting for Trump, they could reaffirm a familiar vision of America, one where racial, economic, and social hierarchies remained largely untouched, reestablishing the United States of America as a nation created by white men for white men. This restructuring affects every demographic as they must realign their values to meet their needs and sometimes vote against their interest to remain in the good graces of those who have triumphantly "Made America Great Again" by regaining and consolidating power.
In many ways, Trump's appeal rested on this resistance to change. His supporters saw him as a voice of stability and tradition, a guardian against the "elitism" they associated with social progressivism. This stability and tradition was the image Trump has successfully projected: a man of the people who would defend their values, even though his wealth and privileged background suggested otherwise. This paradox highlighted a troubling reality for Democrats: Trump, the privileged businessman with a record of bankruptcies and inherited wealth, was seen as more relatable than highly qualified leaders of color, and their white liberal counterparts were viewed as part of an out-of-touch "elite," by the "common man."
People of Color in the Democratic Party: The Burden of Idealism
For people of color in the Democratic Party, this double standard is not new but has only become more stark. To gain influence, they are often required to excel in every way—education, social position, behavior—achieving what society asks of them and then some. Society expects them to be model representatives, champions of justice and fairness, and symbols of resilience, often under extraordinary pressure. Yet, when they reach positions of power, they are branded as elitist, disconnected from the "common man" image that Republicans have cultivated in Trump.
For me, an African American man, this contrast cuts particularly deep. For people of color, success in America is predicated on their exceptional achievement, which must exceed the accomplishments of their white counterparts. Yet, as soon as we reach this success, we are derided for it, accused of being overly ambitious, disconnected, or even "stupid" despite our qualifications. Trump's image as a "common man" endures despite his privilege, while people of color who have overcome systemic barriers are labeled as elites. It's a message that carries with it a painful reality: while the likes of Kamala Harris jump through countless hoops to achieve success, our achievements are diminished, our credibility questioned, and our representation dismissed.
A Systemic Double Standard
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So lives a harsh double standard in America. On one hand, people of color must perform at the highest levels to prove their legitimacy. They have to excel academically, professionally, and socially, demonstrating intelligence, competence, and an unwavering commitment to the ideals of American democracy. Yet when they achieve success, they are painted as the very elitists they have worked so hard to gain legitimacy from. This unfair burden contrasts sharply with Trump's narrative as a businessman who, despite his privilege, continues to be seen as an "outsider" fighting against the establishment.
The systemic double standard imposed on people of color fuels many of our frustrations with the current political landscape. Again, as a black man, my achievements will inevitably be chewed at both ends, either downplayed or weaponized against me. As a result, I and other voters of color—expected to act as symbols of the American Dream and hold the Democratic Party to its highest ideals—are left feeling disillusioned and, often, trapped between a party that doesn't fully represent us and one that actively works against our best interests. Whether this feeling is true or false, I dare say that this perception has become a reality for many, drastically impacting Democrat voter turnout in 2024.
The Democratic Party's Blind Spots and Missed Opportunities
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In the 2024 election, the Democrats learned that idealism alone is insufficient. They believed that by standing against Trump's rhetoric, they would make a compelling case for a different America. But in failing to address the economic and social grievances of the people they claimed to represent, the Democrats underestimated Trump's appeal. They didn't see how deeply alienated some voters felt by the party's own shortcomings.
By retreating from universal health care, caving on economic policies that would meaningfully benefit working Americans, and becoming absentee freedom fighters in Gaza, the Democrats left themselves vulnerable to the charge of hypocrisy. Their missteps, combined with their perceived elitism, only added fuel to Trump's message, painting the Democrats as just another establishment force unwilling to confront the challenges that matter most to voters. The tag of "hypocrite" was far too much for their biracial female candidate to withstand against a rival who has trademarked "fear of the other" and a return to "traditional American values" as his rallying cry.
Conclusion: The 2024 Election as a Wake-Up Call
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The 2024 election stands as a wake-up call for the Democratic Party and America as a whole. Trump's victory exposed the fault lines in the nation's commitment to equality and justice while also challenging the Democrats to reconcile their rhetoric with reality. If the Democrats hope to regain trust, they must address the systemic inequalities that have led many voters to question their sincerity. Only by standing firm on their promises and genuinely representing marginalized communities in policy and practice can they hope to avoid another referendum on the failures that ailed them in the 2024 election.
Ultimately, Trump's win is a political event and a societal reckoning. It lays bare the persistent challenges of race, privilege, and power in America and the difficult path that lies ahead for a nation struggling to live up to its ideals.
