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What Does it Mean to Have an Inaugural Poet?
It comes down to how the party in power approaches multiple truths.
Not having a secure sense of self and place in the world is incredibly disorienting. Improvements in equality have upended many white Americans’ psychological crutch in their presumed racial or gender superiority. To have mainstream culture slowly stop reflecting the idea that we are innately “on top” because of our race or gender can seem incredibly devastating.
While the racial wealth disparity is still greater, many white Americans are also suffering from the inequities of American capitalism. And when these Americans can’t make sense of that in addition to why their race is no longer upheld as “supreme,” many have lashed out in all different forms — from Facebook, to the ballet box, to the US Capitol insurrection of January 6th.
When the falsehood of white racial superiority is exposed, white Americans can either choose to reach a new understanding or sit in perpetual frustration.
In recent history, one American political party has captured the disoriented by feeding them much simpler lies.
And the other American political party, while not perfect, at least has inaugural poets.
