Our country chose one convicted felon sexual abuser who tried overthrow a choice and caused an insurrectionit was contemptuous of our Constitution, has proudly stripped women of their reproductive rights and expressed that he has no interest in supporting our democracy in order to be president. Again.

We’ve been here before, but this time is different because we now know without a doubt who this man is. But that was not enough. I am still finding the words to express the depth of this heartache. But first, I feel confident in saying that we black women have done our part. From action with this historical zoom fundraisers to campaign tirelessly and of course getting out to the polls and voting for Harris, we did everything we could. We should be proud.

However, the next four years will be challenging, to say the least. We survived Trump’s presidency once, and while we still falter, we can survive it again. As we have done throughout history, across generations, and under horrible conditions, we will adapt and figure it out. This is not the end. We may feel despair, but we cannot accept defeat.

These are the cards we were dealt.

Health

A Trump presidency could significantly disrupt access to health care, particularly for black Americans, by targeting critical programs that have reduced racial disparities in health coverage. Trump talked about it repeal or substituting Affordable Care Act (ACA) despite its success in reducing coverage gap between black and white adults. In doing so, Trump risks reversing gains in health care affordability, leaving millions vulnerable to higher costs and losing insurance.

Then there is medical debt. About 41 percent of Americans have this type of debt, which disproportionately affects black Americans — according to NPR56% of black adults owe money on a medical or dental bill, compared to 37% of white adults. Project 2025 outlines a plan that will rotate back the recent law banning surprise and push billing to cut Medicaid, which will likely have devastating effects on low-income families and communities of color, such as about half of Medicaid enrollees are black or Hispanic. Black Americans already face disparities in health outcomes, so cuts to Medicaid, combined with efforts to remove protections like the recent surprise medical billing ban, will likely exacerbate these inequities. Reduced access to affordable health care can lead to increased rates of untreated illness and financial hardship, placing additional burdens on black communities that rely on these programs to manage and afford their care.

Reproduction rights

We live in a country that has the tallest maternal death rate among high-income nations around the globe, with women of color having the tallest Maternal mortality rate for all US women – making black American women more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than any group of women in a high-income country. With the overturning of Roe v. Wade, thanks in large part to Trump, the ways in which women can, will and have died during pregnancy has increased. For women in states that do not protect a woman’s right to choose and restrict or prohibit abortions, the maternal rate is bigger. Black women love it Amber Thurmana 28-year-old medical student and mother of one child and Candi Millera married mother of three children, both of whom are deceased preventable the deaths in Georgia following the overturning of Roe are just two victims of this assault on our bodily rights and autonomy.

With Trump back in office, he is likely to continue to encourage more states to adopt strict measures, and his administration may even try to enact a federal ban on abortion or severely restrict funding to organizations that provide abortion services. reproductive health. These restrictions will disproportionately affect women of color, especially women of color, which could lead to even higher rates of maternal mortality.

Education

A Trump presidency could have a profound impact on education in the United States, particularly for black communities that rely heavily on federal programs to access and afford higher education. The 2025 project proposes removing Department of Education and final federal education fundingpublic service student loan forgiveness and the income-based loan repayment program. This will disproportionately affect black Americans— especially black women — because we rely on student loans and are saddled with student loan debt at a the higher rate than white people.

For many students of color, these changes will severely limit financial support, making educational and economic progress even more difficult. Additionally, without federal oversight, public education could become even more inequitable, with black and low-income communities likely to face more significant funding losses. Eliminating these resources could widen existing disparities, undermining educational access, affordability, and upward mobility for Black Americans.

Economic justice

While Kamala Harris has expressed her plans to support and benefit the middle class and ordinary Americans, Trump’s economic platform will likely continue its work to cut taxes for the rich. He has also possibly expressed by eliminating federal income and payroll taxes, both of which fund Social Security and Medicare. Plus, Trump said he would the increase in commercial tariffs and prioritize deregulation, which will affect so many corners of our lives, from water to our food — and both will be felt across the globe.

His support for deregulation in industries such as health, education and environmental protection could lead to higher out-of-pocket costs for families while undermining protections that protect the public welfare. His potential cuts to social safety nets, including Medicaid and food assistance, would also stress low- and middle-income households that rely on these programs during economic hardship. Ultimately, these policies could deepen economic divides, making it harder for middle-class families to achieve financial stability and upward mobility.

Criminal justice reform

A Trump presidency could seriously undermine social justice and civil rights, especially for black and brown communities. Through his support for Project 2025, Trump aims to increasing funding for police forces and grant immunity officers accused of misconduct. He also advocated aggressiveness and racist tactics such as “stop and frisk” that have a documented history of racial bias and harm against people of color.

These measures will encourage police departments to act with even less accountability, strengthening systems that disproportionately target black communities. His presidency will foster an environment that normalizes injustice against communities of color.

Environmental policy

Trump has consistently advocated for energy independence extensive fossil fuel production and said it would cancel environmental protection. This push for fossil fuels not only accelerates climate change, but also increases pollution levels, which are often worst in black communities which are already burdened with environmental hazards. He will likely try to withdraw from climate accords and ease restrictions on industries that contribute to greenhouse gas emissions. Under a second Trump term, environmental protections would likely be further reduced.

Black women, who are more likely to live in urban areas near industrial areas, face greater exposure to pollutants that exacerbate respiratory disease, cancer risks and other health problems. Furthermore, the effects of climate change, such as extreme heat, floods and storms – which are becoming more intense as greenhouse gas emissions rise – disproportionately harm marginalized communities. This second Trump term could deepen environmental injustices and undermine everyone’s health.

Foreign policy

For those of us who are disappointed by the Biden-Harris administration’s response to the Israel-Palestine conflict, a Trump presidency is likely to be worse. Now that we have a president who doesn’t even see the humanity of the citizens of his own country, we are further from a ceasefire than we were. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wasted no time congratulating Trump. “Your historic return to the White House offers a new beginning for America and a powerful recommitment to the great alliance between Israel and America.” said Netanyahu.

None of these things are a surprise. Trump told us and showed us who he is, but millions of Americans elected him anyway. Trump’s opponent was a black and South Asian woman, so despite the impressive campaign she ran, this result is not surprising. This is and always has been a deeply racist and misogynistic country with such a capacity for hate that it has, time and time again, let that hate stop it from truly thriving. Since Trump’s victory in 2016, his supporters have been shown that in this country darkness is rewarded, so here we are—entering four more years of chaos, division, and very real repercussions that will likely change our country in ways that I didn’t even do it. he began to dream again. Changes that will negatively impact generations of Americans as they come of age in a place that offers fewer freedoms than their parents and grandparents had. With Trump back as president, we’re going backwards. However, we must find a way to move forward.

A Harris victory would not end all our problems. Especially considering that Trump’s 2016 presidency has already been significant enough and will continue to impact our lives for years to come. Harris may not have “healed” us, but he could have stopped the bleeding, unlike Trump, who intends to keep us open. However, here we are. We will carry on as we always have.

But today, we complain.