We are almost at the end of the 2020 presidential election season, and Donald Trump has nearly finished his first term as president of the United States. To some Americans, primarily women, minorities and the LGBTQ+ community, the past four years has felt like an eternity.
In a presidency filled with emotional family separations resulting from immigration policies, attacks on reproductive rights, several bodies of unarmed Black men and women killed by the police, and a traumatic pandemic — this leaves the question: Can America survive a second term of Donald Trump?
Along with social issues, scientists are worried about the possibility of another four years with the Trump administration. The effects of climate change are rapidly increasing throughout the world, and the Republican Party has no necessary plan to combat environmental concerns.
Imagining another four years with President Trump can potentially influence the historic curriculum taught in schools, since President Trump hinted last month that he would create the 1776 Commission to integrate pro-American coursework in classrooms. This statement came after he attacked the current curriculum for teaching about racism and slavery in a way that is demonizing the Founding Fathers.
“What we’re witnessing today is a result of left-wing indoctrination in our nation’s schools and universities,” Trump said on Sept. 17 at a conference. “Many young Americans have been fed lies about America being a wicked nation plagued by racism.”
This removal and whitewashing of history is not only erasing the narrative of the genocide of Native Americans and enslavement of Black people, but it is completely burying the history of the foundation built on the backs of those groups. This is not a surprising statement from President Trump considering his history of racism, specifically his words towards the Central Park Five in 1989.
Another concern surrounding women’s reproductive rights was the controversial topic of last week, due to Amy Coney Barrett’s induction to the Supreme Court. Barrett’s new position puts reproductive rights, specifically abortion, in jeopardy. This isn’t surprising concerning President Trump’s view of women. Whether you’re discussing his sexual misconduct, regulations on women’s healthcare, attack on Planned Parenthood, or simply the way he speaks about women — it’s evident that he has no concern for a woman’s wellness.
Florida A&M University broadcast journalism student and president of Warriors Against Rape (W.A.R.), Aiyana Ishmael, knows that another Trump presidency can be insufferable for women.
“Women will suffer for the next 40 plus years now that Amy Coney Barrett was confirmed into office,” Ishamel said. “Our reproductive rights are in limbo, and it is a dangerous and scary moment to live in right now. Our bodies are going to be the topic of discussion with Barrett’s ideals on abortion. My heart goes out to women that have had abortions in the past, especially knowing how insensitive Barrett’s rhetoric can be.”
FAMU Planned Parenthood Generation Action president Crishelle Bailey believes there will be an uphill battle in a continued Trump presidency.
“Trump also has a really strong influence over Governor DeSantis— in turn having a very strong influence over Florida politics and reinforcing the conservative policy pattern,” Bailey said. “We’re gonna have to keep fighting against overly conservative and exclusionary policies for another four years. Women will continue to have to fight against the unasked evangelicalism of our bodies. We will have to keep fighting against policies against reproductive health, specifically abortion and contraception.”
Organizations like the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and Planned Parenthood are advocating the protection of reproductive rights and attempt to block statewide attacks on reproductive freedom.
The LGBTQ+ community will absolutely be further affected by the Trump administration, if given another four years. During Trump’s current presidency in 2017, he attempted to ban transgender people from serving in the military. Although the ban was blocked by the U.S. District Court, Trump’s administration announcedt hat they would not be protecting transgender students blocked while using restrooms that matched their gender identity.
FAMU Spectrum president and construction engineering technology student Nakia Nixon believes that another four years of Trump would be a nightmare.
“It would force me to feel extremely uncomfortable in this city [Tallahassee]. His supporters have already shown what they’re willing to do and they’re everywhere,” Nixon said.
During this May’s Black Lives Matter protest following the death of George Floyd, a truck drove through the crowd of protestors in downtown Tallahassee. Tallahassee also recently received a visit from Vice President Mike Pence.
“Honestly, his presidency has affected every minority in this country,” Nixon said. “It boosted the egos of the racists and the homophobes, which resulted in a rise of hate crimes. It forced me to snap into reality and realize that these are the same issues our people have been fighting against for years.”
University of Florida business student Jasmyn Nguyen is anxious about how the election will influence hate crimes in America.
“As a second generation Asian-American woman, I haven’t faced any direct racism, but unfortunately, my family has received statements from ignorant people giving into Trump’s fear mongering,” Nguyen said. “Another four years would perpetuate the hate spread throughout the US, and I feel like no town, city or state is safe anymore. We used to have this false sense of safety in these liberal areas throughout the US, but it’s been proved this year that hate can be found anywhere. Whether conservatives believe it or not, Trump being in office has directly advanced the racist tendencies and hate crimes in America.”
If the Trump administration wins a second term, people of color, women, and LGBTQ+ will possibly suffer far worse than the last four years.