As the ballots were tallied late into the night on Tuesday, November 5, 2024, history was made—but not the kind that inspires hope or progress. Instead, the United States elected a man who embodies a litany of scandals and controversies: 34 felony counts, one conviction, two pending cases, two impeachments, and six bankruptcies. Yes, the 47th President of the United States will be a felon.
For many African Americans, this moment isn’t shocking—it’s a glaring confirmation of the systemic double standards we’ve long endured. Black men and women with even minor criminal records often face insurmountable barriers to employment, housing, and the right to vote. Meanwhile, a man whose legal and financial history would disqualify him from managing a local PTA has ascended to the highest office in the land.
The questions we’re asking are bigger than political affiliations or electoral math. What does it say about America that a man with such a sordid history can command enough support to win the presidency? How does this reflect the values of a nation that has repeatedly criminalized Blackness, while overlooking egregious behaviors in others?
It’s hard to miss the irony. America’s “justice system” disproportionately incarcerates Black and brown people, often for crimes far less serious than the financial and political misconduct linked to the incoming president. Yet, this system of supposed accountability has allowed a white man with a criminal history to thrive politically and financially—with no evident consequence.
To the Black community, this presidency serves as another chapter in a long history of contradictions. It highlights the need for sustained advocacy, voter engagement, and strategic coalition-building to counteract the normalization of corruption and privilege.
If there’s a takeaway, it’s this: America’s ideals are most often undermined by its realities and the Black community has just received a resounding confirmation on the racist double standards of this country. The election of a felon as president isn’t just an indictment of one man; it’s a reflection of a system that rewards audacity over accountability. And if that doesn’t light a fire under those fighting for justice, equity, and real democracy, what will?
