C isn't magic, and "systems programming language" is a Rust buzzword with little meaning. C is just the native language of Unix, and you keep needing to use it if and only if you keep wanting to run things on Unix. (The system is really C-and-Unix, not one of C or Unix.)
Nothing high-minded is needed, you just implement what you implement. Operating systems (including Lisp ones!) existed before C-and-Unix and they'll exist after C-and-Unix (haha just kidding there is no "after C" or "after Unix").
(Offended Rust fans, please note that your pet language is just as free to escape Unix, or not, as any Lisp ever was.)
Unfortunately, you can't put a meme back in the bottle, no matter how hard you try. There are people who are not yet born who will say things like "Rust is a blazingly fast rocketship emoji memory safe systems programming language", just like there are people currently living who say inanities like "C is close to the metal".
Nothing high-minded is needed, you just implement what you implement. Operating systems (including Lisp ones!) existed before C-and-Unix and they'll exist after C-and-Unix (haha just kidding there is no "after C" or "after Unix").
(Offended Rust fans, please note that your pet language is just as free to escape Unix, or not, as any Lisp ever was.)