November 7, 2024
Reflection on the 2024 Election
We, the people.
Three words that changed the course of history.
We, the people.
The opening of the Constitution and the "Once upon a time" of the American dream.
The Constitution, our nation’s founding document of promise that both protects and challenges us. It was designed and enacted to form a more perfect union, unifying the group of states operating with different interests, laws and cultures and uniting its citizens as members of a whole, vesting the union's power in we, the people.
Those words rang out on Tuesday as millions of Americans exercised their power. We voted early, by mail-in ballot and in person on election day, with lines stretching around blocks and voters waiting for hours. The process of democracy, scaffolded by our Constitution, worked as it was designed to, just as it has for over two centuries. We, the people, have spoken.
Over the past few weeks, millions of Americans exercised that power of the vote. The process of democracy worked as it was designed to, and We, the people, have spoken.
We saw a more diverse electorate than ever, with young people and people of color turning out in substantial numbers. We saw candidates who reflect the fullness of our nation's experience. And we saw deep divisions laid bare.
Whether we feel happy, disappointed, sad or angry, now is the time to roll up our sleeves. It's up to us, the people, to continue pursuing that more perfect union. We must advocate for equity and fight for justice, inclusion and the protection of every individual. We must continue to strive for absolute perfection for those who still seek its promise.
We've expanded opportunity before, from the abolition of chattel slavery to suffrage and civil rights. We, the people, can – and must – do it again. We don't need to wait four more years to make our voices heard. Today, we, the people, can lead with equity, empathy and humanity. We can establish justice, promote general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty for ourselves and our children.
We, the people, have work to do. But in the face of challenges, we have always found a way forward. Together, with a robust, diverse and clear voice, we will write the next chapter of our American story. One that is complete, inclusive and equitable.
The pursuit of our more perfect union and the success of our democracy requires it.
We, the people, demand it.
Woodrow Keown, Jr.
President & COO
National Underground Railroad Freedom Center
