Yesterday. Today. Tomorrow.

Struggle, in one form or another, is eternal. No surprise. At the forefront. As part of the rearguard. Where-so-ever we find ourselves.  Sooner or later. Whether obvious. Or whether we are oblivious.  We all, at one level or another, will have to literally battle to live our lives. Like Frederick Douglass famously said: “If there is no struggle there is no progress.”

We may not all see conditions in the same way, nevertheless there are moments when the fires are burning full up. When everyone has an opinion one way or another. When many of us decide to bust a move. When even the sleepiest among us is shocked awake.

And during pivotal moments our musical culture reflects, if not outright, leads mass awareness. Remember, James Brown, “Say It Loud. I’m Black And I’m Proud.” Or recall, Public Enemy, “Fight The Power.” And sometimes there are also images that exemplify the zeitgeist of a particular time period.

A contentious election is on the horizon. And many of us will cast a vote.  I don’t know what song will accompany us as we engage with the system. But during this 2020 election campaign there is a follow-up image from the Kamala Harris campaign that embodies a particular moment.

Even though many countries around the world have had, and continue to honor, women leaders. The United States has yet to elect a female as a national leader. Indeed, misogyny is a hallmark of American politics. Some of us even argue that Trump was elected due to white women who voted for him and rejected their own self-interest, refusing to vote for Hillary Clinton. Will the 2020 elections break that mold?

Politically, I’m leaning toward Elisabeth Warren and am impressed by Kamala Harris’ performance on the second night of the June 2019 Democratic debates. Regardless of who wins, what I really want to see is a definitive change in the direction of American politics. Maybe now will be a major moment in history. Even though I know, and as Obama’s presidency definitively demonstrates, one election by itself will not be a definitive change in American society, I still have a dream.

Change is possible. Ugly don’t last forever.