It's Up To Us

Post-Election Series: Reflection #1

Today’s guest post is by MiDian Shofner, Ideos Fellow, a contributor to the 31 Days of Unity Campaign, and the Founder and CEO of The Epitome of Black Excellence. MiDian shares a heartfelt reflection filled with determination and a beautiful imagination for cultivating change and embodying justice. In the coming weeks, we will feature reflections from different voices that can help us make sense of the changing cultural landscape.

As we stand in the wake of another election season, one truth resonates above all: It is up to us.  However you may feel at this moment—whether uplifted, frustrated, or cautiously hopeful—the responsibility of shaping our world is now in our hands.  It is up to us to ensure our institutions live up to their promises, to hold our leaders accountable, and to demand transparency and action.  This work belongs to each of us, and it is a task we must embrace with both courage and commitment.

It is up to us to resist the divisive narratives that seek to drive us apart.  In these times, it’s easy to fall victim to the outlets and voices that amplify our fears and feed on our frustrations.  But let us remember: division serves only those who stand to benefit from our disunity.  It is up to us to stay grounded, to question what we’re told, and to forge our own understanding.  We must lean into our differences, not to deepen divides but to deepen our understanding of one another.  Only then can we find the common ground that connects us all—the hope, the dignity, and the future we envision.

To the BEAUTIFUL BLACK community:  this season brings unique and difficult challenges, and we will feel these realities in ways that others may not.  Our experiences and our history call us to a vigilance and a strength that often feels unending.  It is up to us to hold fast to one another, honor the depth of our resilience, and remember that we carry forward the legacy of those who came before us.  It is up to us to continue to stand for our rights, our dignity, and our dreams, no matter what challenges come our way.

And as we step forward, we have a responsibility to take care of ourselves and each other.  It is up to us to guard our hearts, nurture our energy, and approach one another with compassion, especially in our differences.  Let’s be introspective and mindful of how we hold space for each other, even for those who see the world through another lens.  Community isn’t forged in sameness but in the strength of shared commitment and respect.  It is up to us to protect that, to cherish it, and to recognize that resilience grows only when we care for our collective spirit.

As we consider what lies ahead, ask yourself: What will this next season of leadership mean for me? For my community? For those who are not yet here, but who will inherit the choices we make today?  It is up to us to set an example worth following.  It is up to us to be people who stand firmly in truth, who seek out unity, and who never lose sight of the future we want to build.

This will not be easy. Change requires determination, patience, and a willingness to move through discomfort.  But remember: it is not impossible.  The reality we dreamed of the day before this election—the vision we held close to our hearts—should remain our north star today and beyond.  It is up to us to carry that dream forward, letting it guide us as we face the challenges ahead.  It is up to us to make it real, one step at a time.

With strength and purpose,

MiDian Shofner