President-elect, Joe Biden, and elect vice-president, Kamala Harris, have been titled “Time’s person of the year” for 2020 which will be issued on the cover of the magazine on Dec. 21st. Even though many presidents have had this title, this is the first time for a vice president. This comes after the dividing and narrow 2020 election and fight for the white house during the already tumultuous year. Times has stated that the BLM movement, frontline health care workers, and President Trump were all also under serious consideration. The choice of who should be person of the year has always had a close tie with presidents, and they state that they choose not only what this year reflects, but what the future holds. This ties in with our next four years being under Biden and Harris and whether the unity they promised for the country will actually be upheld.
This yearly tradition dates back to 1927 and has been ongoing ever since. 2014 Time stated that, “...its selection process is not a popularity contest. Its choice reflects the person or persons who most affected the news and our lives, for good or ill.” This statement reflects the wide variety of those who have been on the cover, ranging from peacemakers to Adolf Hitler. More recently, Greta Thurnberg, the young climate change activist was given the title last year. In 2017, the silence breakers of the me too movement were chosen. The year before that Donald Trump amid the 2016 election was chosen. Presidents wise, the last three of our presidents before Trump have been given the title twice, and nine presidents overall have been, with FDR having had the title a total of three times.
Some might argue that other movements and people would have been more important during this life changing year. Others might say that it is important to notice the way our country is heading as it has in the past. We do have to consider that it isn’t about who you like or support, but rather the impact they have had on our year and will have on the future.
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