The presidential election is finally over, but the political and social division continue.
President Donald Trump overwhelmingly won the electoral college, bringing an end to a gritty battle with Vice-President Kamala Harris who assumed the Democratic nominee after President Biden did not pursue re-election.
Despite Trump also winning the popular vote, the split was more evenly matched with Harris winning approximately 68 million votes to Trump's 72 million votes nationwide, highlighting a nation divided in almost equal halves.
As expected, the road to election day was highly acrimonious, with both sides underscoring its vision for America, while taking jabs at the opponent. Unfortunately, the rhetoric took an ugly turn during a rally for President Trump at Madison Square Garden in New York City where a comic for the Trump campaign insulted Puerto Rico, Black people, and Jewish people among others.
Sadly, the divisive rhetoric and lack of civil decorum spilled over into the Church.
Pastor Donnie Swaggart publicly called out COGIC Presiding Bishop J. Drew Sheard for his support of VP Kamala Harris. Trump-supporting internet trolls swarmed the social media of Jamal Bryant's New Birth Baptist Church for hosting Harris. Bishop Clarence McClendon went on a public defensive against Bishop Paul Morton for disagreeing with McClendon's attack on Harris during a church service.
Needless to say, it was not the Church's finest hour in terms of civil discourse as temperatures flared over.
Socially conservative Church leaders took issue with the Harris campaign's support of LGBT issues and abortion. Despite evidence of Harris's lengthy attendance at Third Baptist Church in San Francisco, some still questioned her Christian roots given her bi-racial heritage with her mother being born in India. Moreover, her Jamaican father's absence on the campaign trail made some question the legitimacy of her Black heritage.
Meanwhile, on the other side, socially liberal Church leaders questioned Trump and religious conservatives' silence on civil right issues, racism, gun proliferation, mass incarceration, and poverty.
Moreover, some church goers and leaders questioned the moral character of Trump after his migration policy allowed children to be separated from their parents and put in cages during his first term. Trump also overlooked White supremacist groups as they stoked fear and hatred in Charlottesville. Trump has also been accused of paying hush money to a porn star, while cheating on his wife.
Some also questioned Trump's religious sincerity as he quoted his favorite bible verse as "2 Corinthians." Moreover, during the 2024 presidential race, the Trump campaign sold a bible/ US constitution combo for $59.99 as a means to raise money for his mounting legal fees.
Moreover, the 2024 presidential campaign with Kamala Harris representing the first woman of color headlining the ticket of a major party further exposed America's racial divide.
Exit polls reveal that while a majority of White voters voted for Trump, a majority of Black voters cast their vote for Harris. Latino voters with their growing presence in America were split also evenly down the middle with a slight majority for Harris.
Some might claim that these racial splits underscore problem spots for the Church and the quest for racial unity, especially with most churches being racially homogenous. However, minority church-goers are socially conservative to a large extent; however, the de-valuing and under-appreciation of their respective constituencies' unique agendas by White churches, in general, re-enforce racial division on Sunday morning.
While the overwhelmingly red electoral map may suggest a mandate for a Trump agenda, it disguises the how divided the country really is. It remains to be seen if President Trump can bridge the divide with the 68 million Americans who voted for Harris or whether he will simply bulldoze his Christian conservative agenda into American policy. Nevertheless, we are a nation divided.
This past election has suggested that the Church has taken its cues from the world in terms of effective political discourse and pursuit of national unity. However, hopefully the Church and its religious leaders can re-evaluate past actions and serve as examples to the world going forward.
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