Sojourner Truth Radio: January 21, 2021 – Post Inauguration Special
Today on Sojourner Truth:
On Wednesday, January 20, 2021, Joe Biden and Kamala Harris were officially sworn in as President and Vice President of the United States. The theme of the inauguration ceremony was America United, at a time when the United States remains more divided and weakened by crises after four years of Donald Trump. From his mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic to his support for the violent Capitol insurrection, this country remains at an all-time low. All of this cannot be placed on the feet of Donald Trump, but also his supporters, including elected officials in Congress. Still, Biden and Harris expressed optimism during their inaugurations on Wednesday, pledging to build back better.
During his speech, Biden said: America has to be better than this. He also listed the policy approaches that he believes would lead to healing the country. They include addressing COVID-19, racial justice, climate change and domestic extremism, including white supremacy. Biden is the first president to address white supremacy in an inaugural address, according to NPR. During her speech, Vice President Harris said: We are undaunted in our belief that we shall overcome, that we will rise up. Within the United States and around the world, social, cultural and political leaders expressed optimism at the new page being turned in U.S. history.
Following the inauguration ceremony, Biden signed 15 executive orders and two executive actions. Several executive actions will make changes to the U.S. response to COVID-19 and try to ease some of the financial strain on people because of the pandemic. Other executive actions directly target and undo Trump’s actions on the environment, immigration, the U.S. census, and regulatory changes.
Today’s guests are Jill Cartwright, Bill Gallegos and Selma James.
Jill Cartwright is the Georgia Statewide Organizer for Southerners on New Ground, or SONG. SONG serves as a home for LGBTQ liberation across all lines of race, class, abilities, age, culture, gender, and sexuality in the U.S. South.
Bill Gallegos is a longtime Chicano Liberation and Environmental Justice activist. He is the author of “The Sunbelt Strategy and Chicano Liberation, and Reflections on The Green Economy.”
Selma James is an activist, author, strategist, critical thinker, women’s rights and anti-racist campaigner. She is the widow of C.L.R James, the author of “Black Jacobins,” the major text on the Haitian Revolution. James founded the International Wages for Housework Campaign and is the international coordinator of the Global Women’s Strike.