Two Cities
in One District
Beneath the rotunda of the U.S. Capitol, livestreams of the newly sworn-in president appeared on millions of screens across the nation. Former president Joe Biden and vice-president Kamala Harris sat cross legged behind him. They observed the ceremony with little expression. Opposite across the aisle, Vice President J.D. Vance sat legs spread and smiling proudly. The President directed his attention to the room, “They have tried to take my freedom,” he hung onto the delivery for a moment, “and even my life.”
The broadcast alternated between frames of congresspeople and businessmen standing in ovation as they commended the President’s sacrifice. Trump paused for a moment to absorb the praise before continuing into his first speech as president of the free world. Each syllable fell from his podium into the ecstatic audience on their feet. “I was saved by God,” cheers began to crescendo louder in anticipation of the nation’s slogan, “to make America great again!” Applause filled the rotunda as the broadcast cut to the inaugural crowd, draped in black suits and designer dresses. Specks of red and blue dotted sparsely. Groups of young white men’s faces were bathed with excitement as they grew drunken on the promise of prosperity. “For American citizens, January 20th, 2025 is liberation day.”
Several blocks away, civil rights activist and National Action Network Founder Al Sharpton slowly built an anticipation inside the historic Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal Church. The Reverend’s tone was direct and piercing. He sensed a restlessness within the congregation and carefully wound that energy with all of the prose and delivery of an old gospel preacher. “We want people to see,” Sharpton said, “the tale of two cities, in one district.” The congregation murmured and yelled sparingly, insisting that he preach. Sharpton paused and continued, never looking down. “How are you, Mr. Trump,” the congregation leaned forward, “How are you, Mr. Trump. On the federal holiday of the prince of peace and non-violence,” they began to gather to their feet one-by-one, “[How are] you going to excuse those that cause the death of capitol officers in the nations capitol.” Sharpton’s voice reverberated through the arched sanctuary and shook the congregation to praise. The energy has been winded up, ready to explode. “How dare you Mr. Trump!” and with that the congregation came alive.
Rev. Al Sharpton hails from Brooklyn, NY and delivered his first sermon at the age of 4. His activism became well known through often controversial comments on various social issues. His preaching is reminiscent of the classic call and response style derived from traditional African roots.
On Capitol Hill, the President’s voice bounced through the hall. “Today, is Martin Luther King Day,” he said, “in his honor, we will strive together, to make his dream a reality,” putting a final emphasis on his words, “we will make his dream come true.” Applause rang out from the Capitol. Trump rest on the podium absorbing the praise. His speech trailed onto topics of politics, foreign affairs and inflation. The issue of immigration was marked by words like “criminal” “invasion” and “alien.” Each word drew cheers from the crowd. The sins of the wealthy were imprinted on the poor and fed into the fears of a working-class nation. A long burning anger was infiltrated and an answer to their quarrels was given. “Here I am,” the President echoed, “the American people have spoken!” Cheers and hollers of joy. “We are going to win like never before!”
“How dare you,” Sharpton directed his accusations to Capitol Hill. “For the man that brought the poor people’s campaign to the U.S., you bring some billionaires to church this morning, that need to be repenting for their disinformation and their assimilation.” The congregation gathered steam and was ready to answer the Reverend’s call. “I don’t want the only story coming out of Washington today, to be that a bunch of billionaires went to church,” Sharpton said directly to the press in the upper balconies, “tell them that some regular-organizing people, black, white, latino, gay, and straight came to this church to put them on notice that we are not going to be turned around!” Sharpton landed the final blow, and the congregation’s answered back with its praise.
Tabitha Foster of Brooklyn, NY shares her collection of Barbie dolls adorned in her handcrafted clothing while in line for President-elect Donald Trump’s Make America Great Again Victory Rally. The dolls featured representations of Margot Robbie, Catherine Johnson, Beyonce, and of course President-elect Donald Trump.
“Martin Luther King Day was here first,” clarified Dr. Wayne Curtis, a professor from the University of Maryland volunteering at the Metropolitan AME Church. “The Inauguration of Donald Trump just happened to fall on Martin Luther King Day.” Curtis paused for a moment, seemingly in thought. “The biggest challenge is to realize that we really aren’t that different,” he said, “we need to celebrate peace, embracing Dr. King’s teachings.” Curtis had wise eyes behind his glasses. They were not reminiscent of any concern or fear.
“Faith is everything, faith is your life,” said National Action Network member Desiree L. Whitfield, “that’s all our ancestors had was faith.” Her sentiment echoed back to Sharpton’s preaching, “Why are we in church today? All we had was our faith in God! And the black church says on this rock I will build my church and the gates of Hell will not prevail!”
Simultaneously, the President answered from the Hill; “We will not forget our country, we will not forget our constitution, and we will not forget our God!” The crowd is cheering inside and outside of those walls.
The U.S. Capitol lays behind a maze of fences and barriers after Donald Trump’s 2nd presidential inauguration.
A salesman from Maine handing out Donald J. Trump edition Holy Bible pamphlets on the National Mall spoke about his hopes for Trump’s America, “What this nation needs is unity,” he said, “what this nation needs is faith.” Americans gripped in a moment of uncertainty. Young Americans plagued with a crisis of mental health. A Midwest left decaying while jobs seek cheaper labor abroad. Working class Americans left destitute and forgotten by a tide of executives sailing to profit. People of color still begging for justice and affirmation in a society payed for by the blood of their ancestors. A crisis of unanswered prayers and lamentations. A crisis of hope.
Back at the Metropolitan AME Church, the congregation was locked in arms as the organ chimed in between Sharpton’s exclamations, “We shall overcome!”
Sharpton shouted from the pulpit, “They’ve got their billionaires, bet we’ve got the God of the Universe!” The congregation screamed and shouted in hallelujah. “They had their little parade, but God controls the weather!”
Sharpton lifts from the mic and the choir falls into freedom song, an anthem of the civil rights era. History rose out of their voices and 4 centuries of pain and suffering and resistance and hope sprang from that choir and fell upon that congregation who swayed to-and-fro with its rhythm. Locked in arms together nothing could break them down.
"Ain't gonna let nobody turn me 'round.
Turn me 'round, turn me 'round.
Ain't gonna let nobody turn me 'round,
I'm gonna keep on walkin', keep on talkin',
marchin' on to freedom land!"
The tempo rose and the hands came together and the feet started stomping, shaking the floor and vibrating those 4 walls with the sound of gospel. Triumphantly from the choir, “We shall overcome!” Rev. Sharpton stood stoically at the pulpit. His hand tapped softly on that alter and his head raised high over the crowd singing and swaying into the unknown.
"We shall overcome!
We shall overcome!
We shall overcome!"