As we all watched the events unfold in our nation’s capital on Jan. 6, 2021, it became clear that this date will be forever collectively remembered with other tragic events such as Sept. 11, 2001, and Dec. 7, 1941. Jan. 6, 2021 will sadly be another date that will “live in infamy,” but for very different reasons.
As a mob of White nationalists stormed the Capitol building this week, it is fair to say that we were all shocked, but unlike Sept. 11 or Dec. 7, could we really say that we were surprised? White supremacy, nationalism and the violence associated with these beliefs has been part of the American experience ever since the first Europeans made contact with North America’s indigenous peoples, and recent events remind us that current White supremacy and domestic hate groups are an ever-present threat, not only to communities of color and all those who are “different,” but also to our very democracy.
Our first president, George Washington, was a great leader but he was far from a perfect man; he was also a slave owner. White Americans, like me, have never fully come to terms with this very uncomfortable fact. We must reconcile this horrible aspect of Washington’s life with the inspirational fact that Washington also set the example for all presidents that followed him: the idea that a national leader could be in power temporarily, and that through a democratic process, there could be a peaceful transfer of power to the following leader. We Americans have taken this amazing gift for granted until now. President Trump’s failure to graciously concede his loss in this election is serving as a powerful example of why we can never, ever take these democratic norms for granted again.
My generation was one of the first to grow up watching Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood, and even though I never met him, I count Mr. Rogers as one of the many caring people in my life who shaped the person I have become as an adult. I am undoubtedly at Children’s Home Society of Washington today because of the influence of these nurturing adults. It is now our turn to follow in Mr. Rogers’ footsteps to nurture today’s generation of children, to strengthen today’s families, and to build communities where families are safe, healthy, and free from racism and oppression. We must strive for a more perfect union in which all voices can be heard through a functional democracy that protects the inalienable rights of all those who call the United States home.
If Fred Rogers was with us today, I know he would tell us that it is okay for us to be angry about recent events, and that we must find constructive ways of having conversations with each other and our children about our feelings and the divisions between us. I know he would say that through hard work and collective reconciliation, it is possible to repair the damage of historic and current transgressions that are dividing our nation. If you are struggling with a place to start this hard work, I encourage you to read this article: https://bit.ly/38q0ERO
On the morning of Jan. 7, the Congress of the United States confirmed the electoral votes of our next president and vice president, and it is time for us as a nation to come together to chart a new path. While there will be many challenges ahead, at Children’s Home Society of Washington we are optimistic about the future because we believe that when we strengthen families, we all benefit, and that behind every family’s step toward health, stability, and growth is a community that moves forward together.