Graphic by Joshua Bass

By Joshua Bass, Co-Producer, TigerTV

For many years, the United States of America has been identified as the land of the free. People worldwide migrate to this country to be liberated from their struggles and limitations. The 2024 Presidential election results have caused many African Americans to feel as if they do not live in the land of the free anymore. 

The thought that comes to mind is that if only people knew what “Mother America” truly was. “Mother America” is titled as such for a specific reason: people believe that when they enter or they are born in America, they are nurtured and made anew. Essentially, it is a fresh beginning. 

Michael Eric Dyson challenges this notion in the opening chapter of his book, “Debating Race with Michael Eric Dyson.”

“We live in what has been termed ‘the United States of Amnesia’ when it comes to race and ethnicity in American society…to what degree was the slave past so significant that it continues to cast a long shadow over American life?” Dyson said. 

In the case of American society, political leaders of this “free world” continuously have amnesia. These same leaders of this “free world” have ignored the burdens that they have placed over the heads of many African Americans. 

America has never been free. In reality, masters who held the enslaved captive were not free of themselves because when you have to hurt others, you do not have freedom within. In the present day, elected officials want to take us back to the idea of being enslaved through a modern concept. 

President-elect Donald Trump and his administration seeks to enforce policies such as giving police immunity from prosecution, stripping away abortion rights, and enforcing harsh immigration policies that will lead to an even greater border crisis. 

The calamity in the current state of “Mother America” is that many believe we have elected yet another set of leaders with a history of causing great distress to many Americans across the country. However, it is time to extend love and grace more than ever. The time has come for people in the HBCU community and globally to open our hearts and minds and hope that Mother America will shine its light on all her children.  

The challenge for the “land of the free” is to do what you say you will do. America believes that we produce the world’s greatest minds, and if the truth sets us free, the American Dream that many dream of should never be in jeopardy. 

We, the people have elected yet another leader. What will progress look like moving

 forward?

Copy edited by Freddrell Green, A&E/Opinions Editor