Rollbacks, rallies, and resilience: Black America’s battle for equity

In 2024, Black Americans encountered a series of political events that tested their resilience and commitment to justice. From court rulings affecting civil rights to landmark political milestones, 2024 was a year of challenges and pivotal achievements.Presidential Election and Kamala Harris’s Historic NominationVice President Kamala Harris made history as the first Black woman to lead a major party’s presidential ticket. Most experts viewed her nomination as a breakthrough in representation and a continuation of the fight for equity. Harris’s campaign, which didn’t begin until President Joe Biden dropped out of the race in July, focused on protecting voting rights, promoting economic justice, and addressing racial inequities.Despite those efforts, the 2024 election resulted in Donald Trump’s return to the White House. His campaign rallies were marred by controversy, including appearances in former sundown towns and speeches at Madison Square Garden laced with racially charged rhetoric. The return of Trump to power stunned pundits and raised alarms within Black communities about Civil Rights protections.“Trump’s rhetoric is dangerous, and his choice of venues speaks volumes,” said Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr., president of the National Newspaper Publishers Association.Trump’s conviction on 34 counts of falsifying business records in a New York hush money trial...