Identity and Tokenism in the 2020 Presidential Election
“A seat at the table” can be formative for minorities, but as we have seen this election it can also be a toxic form of tokenism. Source.
The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines “tokenism” as, “the policy or practice of making only a symbolic effort (as to desegregate).” When considering this issue, the first things that may come to mind may be universities or sororities where the leadership may flout their token person of color, but the tokenism of African-Americans, women, and other people of color is widely prevalent in the field of politics. During this election season the scrutiny of the use of tokenism has been an issue for both sides of the political aisle.
Former Vice-President Joe Biden made headlines earlier in October when he pledged to choose a woman as his running mate if he won the Democratic presidential nomination. He also stated that he would appoint the first African-American woman to the Supreme Court if a vacancy arose. Many praised Biden’s proclamation, commending him for attempting to make commitments that will allow him to reach more voters. However, Biden’s critics painted his pledge as pandering and tokenism that would have harmful repercussions for whomever he chose as the vice-presidential candidate. Some contend that, in stating he would choose a woman, Biden has left his vice-presidential candidate, Kamala Harris, open to attacks concerning whether or not she was chosen simply because of her gender or her race.
President Donald Trump and the GOP have also been scrutinized for their tokenism of women and people of color in this year’s election. In an attempt to dispute the claims that President Trump is racist and sexist, the GOP set out to hand pick various women and people of color to speak out in support of President Trump at the Republican National Convention. Critics accused President Trump and the GOP of parading out their “Black tokens” at the convention, including Senator Tim Scott, Kentucky Attorney-General Daniel Cameron, and former NFL players Jack Brewer and Herschel Walker. Another man commonly pointed to as one of President Trump's “token Black people” is the Secretary of Housing, Dr. Ben Carson, the only African American man in President Trump’s cabinet. The New York Times stated, “this administration stands to be mighty white and male, and its few women and people of color, tend to appear in roles that feel like afterthoughts or stereotypes.” They then went on to cite how Nikki Haley, who has little foriegn-policy experience, yet is the child of Indian immigrants, has served as the ambassador to the United Nations, and how Ben Carson, an esteemed Black doctor and neurosurgeon has headed up housing projects, implying that the Trump administration has placed these individuals in roles based on their racial stereotypes.
With racial issues coming to the forefront in this 2020 election, both the Democratic and Republican parties have been criticized for their usage of race issues as a convenient political platform. As both sides have been scrutinized for their use of gender or race “tokens” the parties are continually challenged by constituents to actually tackle issues surrounding race and enact policy that will actually speak to, and make changes for marginalized communities in the United States.