Skip to content Skip to search

Republish This Story

* Please read before republishing *

We’re happy to make this story available to republish for free under an Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives Creative Commons license as long as you follow our republishing guidelines, which require that you credit The 19th and retain our pixel. See our full guidelines for more information.

To republish, simply copy the HTML at right, which includes our tracking pixel, all paragraph styles and hyperlinks, the author byline and credit to The 19th. Have questions? Please email [email protected].

— The Editors

Loading...

Modal Gallery

/
Sign up for our newsletter

Menu

  • Our Mission
  • Our Team
  • Latest Stories
  • Search
  • Upcoming Events
  • Contact Us
  • Newsletter
  • Donate
  • Work With Us
  • Fellowships
    • From the Collection

      Changing Child Care

      Illustration of a woman feeding a baby a bottle
      • 1 in 4 parents report being fired for work interruptions due to child care breakdowns

        Chabeli Carrazana · February 2
      • Washington, D.C., offers financial relief to local child care workers

        Orion Rummler · September 20
      • As climate change worsens hurricane season in Louisiana, doulas are ensuring parents can safely feed their babies

        Jessica Kutz · May 5
    • From the Collection

      Next-Gen GOP

      Illustration of a woman riding an elephant
      • Mayra Flores’ victory set a record for women in Congress. It also reflects the growing visibility of Republican Latinas

        Candice Norwood · June 21
      • A banner year for Republican women

        Amanda Becker · November 11
      • Republican women could double representation in the U.S. House

        Amanda Becker · November 4
    • From the Collection

      On The Rise

      Illustration of three women marching
      • Can Cheri Beasley build a winning coalition in North Carolina?

        Candice Norwood · October 11
      • Los Angeles has never elected a woman mayor. Karen Bass hopes to change that.

        Nadra Nittle · September 8
      • Judge J. Michelle Childs is confirmed to D.C. appeals court

        Candice Norwood · July 20
    • From the Collection

      Pandemic Within a Pandemic

      Illustration of four people marching for Black Lives Matter with coronavirus as the backdrop
      • Some LGBTQ+ people worry that the COVID-19 vaccine will affect HIV medication. It won’t.

        Orion Rummler · November 23
      • Why are more men dying from COVID? It’s a complicated story of nature vs. nurture, researchers say

        Mariel Padilla · September 22
      • Few incarcerated women were released during COVID. The ones who remain have struggled.

        Candice Norwood · August 17
    • From the Collection

      Portraits of a Pandemic

      Illustration of a woman wearing a mask and holding up the coronavirus
      • For family caregivers, COVID is a mental health crisis in the making

        Shefali Luthra · October 8
      • A new database tracks COVID-19’s effects on sex and gender

        Shefali Luthra · September 15
      • Pregnant in a pandemic: The 'perfect storm for a crisis'

        Shefali Luthra · August 25
    • From the Collection

      The 19th Explains

      People walking from many articles to one article where they can get the context they need on an issue.
      • The 19th Explains: What we know about Brittney Griner’s case and what it took to get her home

        Candice Norwood, Katherine Gilyard · December 8
      • The 19th Explains: Why the Respect for Marriage Act doesn’t codify same-sex marriage rights

        Kate Sosin · December 8
      • The 19th Explains: Why baby formula is still hard to find months after the shortage

        Mariel Padilla · December 1
    • From the Collection

      The Electability Myth

      Illustration of three women speaking at podiums
      • Mayra Flores’ victory set a record for women in Congress. It also reflects the growing visibility of Republican Latinas

        Candice Norwood · June 21
      • Stepping in after tragedy: How political wives became widow lawmakers

        Mariel Padilla · May 24
      • Do term limits help women candidates? New York could be a new testing ground

        Barbara Rodriguez · January 11
    • From the Collection

      The Impact of Aging

      A number of older people walking down a path of information.
      • From ballroom dancing to bloodshed, the older AAPI community grapples with gun control

        Nadra Nittle, Mariel Padilla · January 27
      • 'I'm planning on working until the day I die': Older women voters are worried about the future

        Mariel Padilla · June 3
      • Climate change is forcing care workers to act as first responders

        Jessica Kutz · May 31
    • From the Collection

      Voting Rights

      A series of hands reaching for ballots.
      • Connecticut voters approved early voting. Here’s how their new secretary of state wants to make it happen.

        Barbara Rodriguez · February 13
      • Women lawmakers in Minnesota are in the vanguard of the democracy movement

        Barbara Rodriguez · February 3
      • Election workers believe in our system — and want everyone else to, too

        Barbara Rodriguez, Jennifer Gerson · November 8

    View all collections

  • Explore by Topic

    • 19th Polling
    • Abortion
    • Business & Economy
    • Caregiving
    • Coronavirus
    • Education
    • Election 2020
    • Election 2022
    • Election 2024
    • Environment & Climate
    • Health
    • Immigration
    • Inside The 19th
    • Justice
    • LGBTQ+
    • Military
    • Politics
    • Press Release
    • Race
    • Sports
    • Technology

    View All Topics

Home
  • Our Mission
  • Our Team
  • Latest Stories
  • Search
  • Upcoming Events
  • Contact Us
  • Newsletter
  • Donate
  • Work With Us
  • Fellowships

We’re an independent, nonprofit newsroom reporting on gender, politics and policy. Read our story.

The 19th News(letter)

News from reporters who represent you and your communities.

Please check your email to confirm your subscription!

Submitting...

Uh-oh! Something went wrong. Please try again later.

Become a member

The 19th thanks our sponsors. Become one.

Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, both wearing masks, walk in front of an American flag.
Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden and his running mate Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA) deliver remarks at the Alexis Dupont High School on August 12, 2020 in Wilmington, Delaware. Harris is the first woman of color in U.S. history to be named to the top of a major party presidential ticket. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

Politics

Inauguration Day is here. So are mixed emotions for 19th readers.

We asked our readers how they feel about the Biden-Harris inauguration — if you’re feeling anything from worried to hopeful, you’re not alone.

Sereena Henderson

Community Manager

Sereena Henderson portrait

Published

2021-01-20 11:31
11:31
January 20, 2021
am

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Email

To share your feelings about inauguration, tweet us @19thnews using #19thVoices. And don’t miss a chance to have your voice included in future stories — sign up for our free newsletter for updates.

Inauguration Day 2021. For 19th News readers, it’s a day of mixed emotions — a day of excitement, hope and relief clouded by feelings of anxiety, concern and fear. 

The 19th invited readers to share their thoughts on the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris, the first woman and first Black and South Asian person to become vice president. As we mark this historic moment in our democracy — exactly two weeks after a mob’s attempt to overturn the presidential election results and one week after President Donald Trump’s consequential second impeachment — here’s a look at what we learned from the 77 responses we received from readers from across the country.

The 19th thanks our sponsors. Become one.

‘I am extremely worried’

Like most 19th readers who we heard from, Trinayna Sriram of Dallas “is over the moon” about the Biden-Harris inauguration. For her, this day serves as a chance to ring in the new year all over again. She is especially excited to celebrate Harris, who will make history that is personal to Sriram.

“As a woman of South Asian descent, it is absolutely amazing to see a strong, eloquent and extremely well-qualified woman take her place as the second most powerful member of the U.S. government,” Sriram said. “I tear up everytime I see how much she means to all those little girls who can see themselves in her.”

Trinayna (Trina) Sriram

Although Sriaram maintains a positive outlook, the 23-year-old echoes the concerns of most 19th readers who responded to our callout.

“I am extremely worried about the safety of the President-elect and Vice President-elect,” she said. “However, I hope that the government will use the Capitol violence as a strong learning lesson so that such horrors may never occur on such sacred ground ever again.”

‘A momentous, historic occasion’

This year’s inauguration looks a little different due to the global pandemic. Still, readers have planned to celebrate this historic event, particularly Harris’ swearing-in. From hosting virtual parties with friends to popping champagne, they plan to creatively commemorate the day.

Yilin Li

“When [Harris] was nominated, I started crying in my room because I finally felt represented,” Yilin Li, a 19th reader, recalled. Li, who is a college freshman, will be in class during the event, but she still plans on tuning in via livestream. 

Lindsey Appiah, 40, of Washington, D.C., will be gathering virtually with friends and family. 

“I believe it is a momentous, historic occasion at a sobering, challenging time,” she said. “When the pandemic is under control and we’ve toppled white supremacy, because it is imminent, I will join with others for a collective and deeply needed mass celebration.”

Lindsey Appiah

For 19th reader and Seattle resident Ellen McCandless, she is overjoyed to see a woman finally take the position of vice president and will be watching the inauguration with “a big sigh of relief.”

“Women make up half of this country’s population,” she said. “It is crazy it took this long to have that represented in the second highest seat of power. As for [Harris] being the first Black and South Asian American, I’m also thrilled and hope this sheds more light on the problems minorities face daily in the U.S and how we can start to work to resolve these problems.”

Ellen McCandless

‘Priority number one: defeat COVID’

After Inauguration Day, Americans will be closely watching the first 100 days of Biden’s presidency. The country is still grappling with the coronavirus pandemic, a modern-day civil rights movement and a recession — all disproportionately impacting women and marginalized communities. We asked our readers what their hopes are for these crucial 100 days. 

A strong focus on the pandemic is most important to our readers, including Stephanie M. Collier of Austin, Texas.

“I hope that the incoming administration can get everything they need to start moving in a methodical, coordinated way to serve our nation in every way,” she said. “Priority number one: defeat COVID, get resources to those who need it the most, bring some normalcy and calm to everyone.”

Stephanie M. Collier

The 19th’s Shefali Luthra reported that Biden vowed to use his first 100 days in office to mandate masks in many public places, get 100 million doses of coronavirus vaccines administered, and curb the spread of infection enough to safely reopen most American schools. 

Among other top issues to be addressed for our readers were climate change, economic relief, immigration and reproductive health — all topics The 19th will continue to cover in 2021. 

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Email

The 19th News(letter)

News from reporters who represent you and your communities.

Please check your email to confirm your subscription!

Submitting...

Uh-oh! Something went wrong. Please try again later.

Become a member

Up Next

Pro-Trump protesters gather in front of the U.S. Capitol Building.

Politics

Trump wielded toxic masculinity as a weapon. It hurt America.

His gendered attacks unleashed a poison in U.S. politics that culminated in the violent insurrection that will define his presidency.

Read the Story

The 19th
The 19th is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. Our stories are free to republish in accordance with these guidelines.

  • Donate
  • Newsletter
  • Events
  • Search
  • Jobs
  • Fellowships
  • Contact Us
  • About Us
  • Community Guidelines
  • Membership
  • Membership FAQ
  • Major Gifts
  • Sponsorship
  • Privacy
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Instagram