will obama's presidency ultimately lead to an improvement in race relations in america?

[unblock]

in the moment, it can certainly feel that america just wasn't really ready for a black president.
well, most of us were. obviously we were ready to elect a black president. but not enough people and not enough in powerful positions to make this a normal presidency. they not only challenge him at every turn, but they also continue to call into question his very legitimacy as president, in a way no other president has ever endured.

conservatives and bigots have doubled-down on the hate, and the right-wing rank-and-file have been stewing in extra doses of bile and bitterness ever since obama's won his first term.


and yet, every bit of progress we've had in race relations has been accompanied by a flare-up of resistance and violence before the right finally resigns and accepts defeat (and vows to fight another day).



so which is it?

(a) we'll get past this turmoil, and historians will look back on obama's presidency as the beginning of an enduring breakthrough ,like blacks in baseball or the military; or
(b) we weren't ready, all obama's presidency will do for race relations is embolden and empower the bigots -- and innocent blacks will be paying the price for years and years to come.

[JustAnotherGen]

1. b.

I think - I never thought being born in 1973 I would see this struggle for the most basic human decency and respect.

I never believed my nephews would have an 'Emmett Till for their generation'.

Looks like - now they have three.

[randys1]

3. And yet it was just below the surface this whole time, the wake up is for white folks like me

Black folk dont need to be told they are targeted by policy or that they shouldnt trust cops.

When white people finally realize just how active racism, institutional racism is to this very day, then we can see change.

My concern is the one percent will use all of this against us and make things even worse than they are.

Righty is up in arms that Democrats would DARE to register voters in Ferguson while this is all going on, proving they dont have the first clue what Democracy is.


HAVE YOU posted at discussionist? Full of 100% racist teaparty assholes, I dont see a way to avoid a confrontation with people who thrive on hate.

[JustAnotherGen]

9. Nope - I'm not going there

I.E. Discussionist.

I had one of these assholes at my house Sunday before last. They are freaking insane - and that one?

Husband is clear to their mutual friend that he is NEVER to bring that guy to one of our lunches again.

They are insane with hate!

[ZombieHorde]

2. I think his election will help improve race relations in a generation.

Children seeing a black President should have some positive effect.

[leftstreet]

4. Billionaire politicians have little to do with 'race relations'

American attitudes about race were tested positively when Obama won an overwhelming victory

[unblock]

6. i disagree. certain politicians and their billionaire backers are stirring up a lot of sh*t.

as a teenager in the late 70s/early 80s, i don't recall this much talk about secession and this level of bigotry.

true, the bigotry had been getting worse even before obama's election, but it certainly seems to have brought it to the fore.

the question is, is this a dying gasp of this round of racism or is this level of hate here to stay for quite some time...?

[woo me with science]

11. ^^^This is the correct answer.^^^

Americans did their best. They voted for transformative hope and change. They did not vote for this bait and switch expansion of Bush policies and march to fascism.

[TheKentuckian]

5. Help based on sunlight being the best disinfectant. For too long we have been able to

pretend a great deal more healing than was real and present, pretending the popularity of Oprah, Jordan, and Cosby was a meaningful reflection of who and what we are as a country.

Maybe it was reflective but not so much in Shining City Upon a Hill fashion but in the bigotry of high expectations way that if you were better than great professionally and are damn perfect personally, didn't step on toes by mating interracialy, "speak well", didn't make much noise politically, and make a ton of money then you too could be acceptable.

[JoePhilly]

7. Most racists had gone underground.

And they were not happy about having to do that. They were pissed.

And the election of Obama blew the lid off their anger and their racism.

They can't contain it any longer.

So we see it again, and we'll need to drive it back, some of it dying off, some returning into the shadows.

Hopefully, their numbers will continue to diminish.

[FLyellowdog]

10. Absolutely. Well said. nt

[Romulox]

8. I think we needed a visionary, and instead got an incrementalist. A bit of a bait-and-switch.

"Change!" seems like such a hollow slogan, today.

[Matrosov]

12. Let the racists come out of the woodwork

In order to be able to deal with the racism, we first have to expose the racism. People aren't as quick to share their bigoted views anymore.

That's why their hateful response to progressives electing an African American has been a blessing in disguise, because it has encouraged the bigots to start speaking up more again and show us how alive racism is still today.

It won't be an easy fight, but it is a fight we'll ultimately win.

[Orsino]

13. President Obama has been an impediment to some race-based oppression...

...that accelerated during previous administrations. He reminds us that white power isn't a given, and forced some of the powerful to regroups and rebrand.

[zipplewrath]

14. c) it'll take a generation

There is a generation growing up right now that was around 8 -10 years old when he was elected. When he is done they'll be entering college. That generation will have been raised only knowing a black family in the White House. And really, even folks who are now just turning 12 or 14 will also have begun to think of a black family as being in the White house as "normal". That's pretty near a generation.

Look what happened when a generation of kids grew up "knowing" gay people and gay parents. It became the "new normal".