Really interesting post. I honestly haven’t decided where I stand as a voter for the next president, but I can say that it doesn’t have anything to do with color. It is so sad that CNN honestly could sit in a room brainstorming content and think that a poll questioning “is america ready for an African American…” would not be as ridiculous as it comes across…

it’s such a crowd leading piece of information too. why would they think that it’s appropriate as “responsible journalists” who supposedly cover both sides.

I think you’re right that reverse racial discrimination exists. Which is another reason why Obama in this election is a positive step.

What I think we can’t do, though, is pretend that America’s past doesn’t hold what it holds. It shouldn’t be all we think about. But I think we have to look realistically where we are, and then from there make positive choices, individually and in our communities, to overcome prejudices. Having a “White Pride” week would be disrespectful and unnecessary.

I don’t believe that overcoming prejudice will occur by forgetting or overlooking our differences. It’s actually about seeing the differences and accepting and embracing them. I think we sort Americans into groups because the groups have different cultures and histories within the same nation, and that’s OK. It’s just not OK to hate the other group.

I see Obama as a testimony to the fact that things can be different regarding the oppression of the black individual. Oppression that sometimes comes from within the black community. Obama himself didn’t discuss race in the primaries until now because it was important to run as an American first. The reality is that he is an American and half-black, and America has never had a black president before. Polling America about whether it’s “ready” or not is in a way, realistically looking at our current position and questioning it.

I taught for a year in an inner city school system, where 95% of my students were not white. I attended a black church in TX for a number of years. I have a best friend who is black. My experiences have shown me that Americans of different race can accept and love each other while respecting each other’s differences.

Ask anyone on the street if holding a “Latino Heritage” parade, “African-American Pride week”, or whatever is racist or wrong and chances are they’d say no. Even if they didn’t agree with it, chances are they wouldn’t admit it for fear of being labeled a racist. Everyone should be able to celebrate their heritage, regardless of what it is. Try, however to organize a “White Pride” week and see how far you get. It would be seen as racist, elitist, arrogant, extremely discriminatory and possibly illegal. While we have worked hard, and need to continue to work harder to end racism, reverse discrimination is alive and well and cannot be addressed because it’s “racist.”

I have always wondered why we feel compelled to “sort” Americans into groups like African-American, Korean-American, Latin-American, etc. Why can’t we just be American? There are so many people in the US that can’t begin to name anyone in their family line that came from Africa, Korea, Mexico, or wherever, yet, they feel compelled to identify with something other than just American. I’m not criticizing, just wondering why it’s necessary. I don’t label myself as “Swedish-American,” or “Irish-American” or “Anglo-American.” I’m just American. My dad would say we’re a “Heinz 57″ race ’cause we came from all over. I guess I’ll be part of the “mutt” race then.

Beth

That kind of mentality, to me, seems to produce a lax attitude toward change. Maybe even a refusal to try to change?

I really don’t think I’m being ignorantly optimistic here. It’s like saying poverty’s here, that’s just how it is and how it always will be. That’s too bad. As I sip my martini.

The fact that Obama is black is a BIG deal. It means hundreds and thousands of voters have denied what they were taught by their grandparents, their parents, and trusted a black man to govern them. It’s a step, a LEAP, in a positive direction regarding race. Considering blacks, at one time, were not even allowed to vote in our country.

And the reason why, Rachel, it’s not odd when someone announces the African American as the first to do something is because that family had to overcome years of hatred and cultural negativism (within their own community) to achieve whatever it is he/she has achieved.

Now c’mon. And I’m a white girl, y’all.

Racism is perpetuated in the country largely by the media and to some extent by those who seem to think that EVERYTHING has to do with race. If more than one person applies for a job and a white individual gets it, it’s racist. If a jury convicts a non-white of a crime, it’s racist, etc. I’ll be the first to admit that many times, maybe even the majority of times, racism is in fact the reason. However, this isn’t ALWAYS the case. In fact, right now in the US, if a white male and a non-white male apply for the same position and are EQUALLY qualified, the non-white will get the job. Why? So companies do not appear racist. It’s racism in reverse so to speak.

Having lived overseas for many years, I can say that the discrimination against African-Americans in the US seems somewhat unique. Culture has a lot to do with it I think. Blacks in America act, dress and speak completely different than Blacks in England or Germany for instance.

Understand that I am ONLY voicing MY opinion after lots of observation and I’m NOT in any way implying that any of what I’m saying has been studied or determined to be factual by anyone.

SOME individuals of “color” (meaning anyone who isn’t Caucasian), behave, speak, dress, sing, dance, etc. in such ways, for whatever reasons, that lead to the perpetuation of certain stereotypes and expectations.

I think that if you think you are discriminated against and you act like you are and expect to continue to be, then maybe you will be. Not doing those things or believing that may not end the discrimination, but it may change the way you choose to deal with it or way you go about trying to change it.

As for voting or not voting, for me it has NOTHING to do with whether or not “my” choice would be on the ballot or not. It has everything to do with where and in whom I place my allegiance. While I am certainly grateful to be living in a country that afford me the freedoms it does, I am NOT a citizen of the US in the long run; as in eternity. That doesn’t mean I don’t have a responsibility to act in a prudent manner and to respect those whom God has placed in authority over me. I do know for certain that God is in control and no one will be in the White House who isn’t supposed to be there. I may not know the reasons, but I know who makes it all possible. Having said that, I will certainly respect and lawfully abide here as I’m supposed to (unless I’m told to do something against God’s will or law). I will continue to pray daily for those in our government, our military, etc. My husband is in his 21st year in the Air Force. I served 10 myself and am a Gulf War vet. No regrets. LOTS of changed thinking, but no regrets.

Beth

It is. I didn’t realize how big an issue race was in America still until recently, to be honest. A friend is adopting kids of another color from another country and the response from a generation older than ours has been surprisingly abhorrent. “Do they even have any pretty ones?”

Seriously. They said that. Race is still an issue with some folks. And those folks, who don’t think a “colored” orphan is worthy of a mom and dad sure won’t be voting for a “colored” president.

I don’t know if the number of racists in America is as high (or higher) as any poll would suggest, but they’re out there.

If he had a non muslim -ish name and were a “mainstream” type christian, it would be over all ready.

Just my .02.

C