Photo by Carson Ming

By Erinn Gardner, Secretary

Former President Donald Trump was elected as the 47th president of the United States on Wednesday.  The defeat of Vice President Kamala Harris has caused an uproar in the AUC—sparking concern and uncertainty among students. 

The news was particularly unsettling for Spelman College students, who now face a heightened sense of angst about the future of their rights, safety and wellbeing as Black women under Trump’s leadership.

“I think we already knew that Black women were the least protected, but I think this election showed that people were more willing to have a felon in office, than put in a Black woman who is overly qualified for the position,” sophomore Biology major Shanell Hall said. 

For many AUC students, this election signified not only their first experience voting in a presidential race but also the hope of seeing themselves represented by a Black female nominee. Student-led organizations such as Spelhouse Votes, AUC for Harris and Black Girls Vote worked tirelessly to canvas and ensure that the community voted for Harris in the election. 

“When I saw the results, I was in tears because we are going backwards instead of progressing,” sophomore English major Courtney Lipscomb said.  “Trump and patriotism should never be synonymous. He champions hatred, division, treason and corruption.” 

Several fear that their reproductive freedoms, LGBTQ rights, immigrant rights, racial equity and access to comprehensive healthcare are at jeopardy.  

“As a Black queer person with a disability, I am concerned about my healthcare and my safety in the world,” junior English major Shara Allen said. “My concern lies with the safety and well being of the individuals who are in similar communities as mine.” 

On the other hand, Spelman women were ecstatic to hear that two Black women will serve together in the Senate for the first time. The victories of Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks and Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester instilled a sense of optimism for Black women in politics.

“Angela Alsobrooks was my county executive, so it was very inspiring and I’m beyond proud to watch her set this bar so high for a Black woman like myself,” Lipscomb said. 

Although a bulk of AUC students were hopeful that the outcome of the presidential election would work in Harris’ favor, a handful of them felt as though the intersection of Harris being Black and a woman would hinder her success. Therefore, they were not particularly optimistic about the result of the election. 

“I feel like I’m in 7th grade all over again when Trump got elected the first time,” junior English major Naomi Johnson said.  “I was unfortunately not surprised by the outcome because we’ve seen this happen before, and we know how it ends.” 

Politics undoubtedly influences several aspects of society, along with who is valued in it. For individuals impacted, it is difficult to separate their mere existence from the governing power structures.

“There’s no difference between personal and political. If your politics are affecting my everyday life and the way that I  live in a country that you tell me that I can live however I want, then it’s personal,” Allen said. 

Copy Edited by Editor-in-Chief, Colin Royal