Obama Victory Triggers Racist Backlash: At Least 200 Incidents Reported

Atlanta - In rural Georgia, a group of high-schoolers gets a visit from the Secret Service after posting "inappropriate" comments about President-elect Barack Obama on the Web. In Raleigh, N.C., four college students admit to spraying race-tinged graffiti in a pedestrian tunnel after the election. On Nov. 6, a cross burns on the lawn of a biracial couple in Apolacon Township, Pa.

The election of America's first black president has triggered more than 200 hate-related incidents, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center -- a record in modern presidential elections. Moreover, the white nationalist movement, bemoaning an election that confirmed voters' comfort with a multiracial demography, expects Mr. Obama's election to be a potent recruiting tool -- one that watchdog groups warn could give new impetus to a mostly defanged fringe element.

Most election-related threats have so far been little more than juvenile pranks. But the political marginalization of certain Southern whites, economic distress in rural areas, and a White House occupant who symbolizes a multiethnic United States could combine to produce a backlash against what some have heralded as the dawn of a postracial America. In some parts of the South, there's even talk of secession.

Keep reading

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HuffPost's Greg Mitchell -- Racial Incidents and Threats Against Obama Soar: Here Is a Chronicle

Comments

[bobsmith]

From the article: "In some parts of the South, there's even talk of secession."

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If this were on the ballot, us northerners would support it in a landslide. They want to leave, we want them gone... what are we waiting for? Let's get it done.

[Scarllatti]

Ditto. Let us let these barb.arians to go. Who cares?

[island-in-alabama]

How about the non-barbarians who live in the South?

Thanks for standing with us to build a better United States of America.

[emmaspeaks]

They have talked about that for years. They have never gotten over the civil war. They do not like the northerners, and for all I care, they can go. If you aren.t with us, go.

[emmaspeaks]

Take Alaska with you.

[sandpiper1]

Sounds like the problem we have in Canada with Quebecers who want to seceede..mind you they are one of the 'have not' provinces. I think a lot of Canadians would like the Gov. to let them go without any monetary benefits from the rest of Canada like our currency, passport, etc, and to reimburse us for the $$$$ we have given them over the years in 'equality' payments. Does the South really think they could survive without the rest of America footing the bill for their current life style?

[island-in-alabama]

Do you really think most Southerners would support it?

What we learn from the article is that some Southerners are stupid enough to suggest secession. I would posit that this is a small minority of resentful bigots acting out - and not majority sentiment. I'm certain moderates, liberals, and minorities would be against secession. I'm even certain most conservatives aren't stupid enough to want it either. Dead enders like the one quoted in the article sure, but there are morons everywhere.

I am saddened that we've just elected, as a nation, a president who believes in unity, rather than division, and this thread is full of people posting suggestions that it would be a good idea to divide this country.

We elected Obama President of The United States of America. All Americans. All Regions. All States. All Cities. All of it. One Country.

We have elections in this country for a reason. We had one. The majority spoke. Why are so many people dumping on the South because some sore loser got quoted making a stupid statement about secession? The clown wants to take his toys home? Fine. Let him. But he can't take my state out of the Union over it - and it's just so sad to see so many HuffPo posters tell the entire South to take a hike. That is not the unity Obama was talking about.

[BobMalarky]

Oh let them secede as Lincoln should have, the big babies.

[island-in-alabama]

The South is not only populated by bigots. I guess you're happy to abandon the rest of us to the bigots?

[Enid]

Who is doing headlines here its getting to be like old man William Hearst
Exaggeration and fluff.

[payos]

how do you knowit is exageration and fluff?

[Fight4Freedom2008]

They need more then one book or they'll only know one thing...

[leeman79]

I think this guy was in Wrong Turn.

[DebbieinPhx]

Angry, irate, Appalachian, ignorant racists that want to secede from the union…hmmm, now why does that sound familiar…wait don’t tell me..

Ah yes, it’s the Sara Palin constituency! I would suggest they all move to Alaska, but there are actually some nice people who live there, so that doesn’t see too fair. What to do… I think Bill Maher had the best idea. Every week for these last several months he’s been hosting a little spot on his program called Exit Strategy. Initially he covered parts of the world that Americans might move to in case of a McCain/Palin upset/victory. He gave a segment on Brazil (beautiful beaches, sans-apparel), Italy (home to the biggest anti-gay pontificate, but how to explain those guard uniforms), and India (where you can visit your old job), etc. Last week he revised Exit Strategy for the disenfranchised McCain/Palin supporters who were ticked off at having lost the election. Bill’s first country for the McCain/Palinite Exit Strategy stegment? Iraq. Home of million’s of people who hate each other almost as much as they hate Americans! He ended his segment with a jauntly little “Bon Vouyage, let us know if you need help packing!”

Ya gotta love him!

[Scarllatti]

Debbie, I have been watching Bill too. It is exciting for you to chronicle his "Exit Strategy" here. I love that segment the most.

Are you watching this Friday's episode? I will.

[sugar20035]

And i certainly do! Love that Exit Strategy segment, i will miss him terrribly while on hiatus.

[KatDawgATL]

There is NO such thing as a"Superior Race" among humans. It is the "Illusion" of "white supremacy"
that these people cling to not just their guns and bibles.

[VSamuels]

But, it remain as real as the sky we see, because like so many other areas that have a deficit, there is no white leadership to take on this issue and present the type of depth in conversation which clearly explains the problem. So folks who are still challenged by racism, continue to see those in their world in racial terms, as white leaders continue in general, to be reluctant to approach and challenge 'racial hang-ups' in a manner consistent with the problem within their communities.

In essence, we have folks in those communities expressing grief about race, but we have a different response by those who are in positions to acknowledge the 'fears' and then frame it in manners that will be healthy to begin intra-cultural dialogue among those who harbor such views.

There is an 'air' of dishonesty also by the defenders, who pretend that those on the receiving end are just paranoid and too sensitive; rather than admitting that there is a real sentiment and rather than acknowledging it is their lack of empathy and caring which continues to contribute to the problem.

[ming099]

.............ignorance and intolerance knows NO race, NO education level, NO income bracket or geographic area.............there are STUPID people everywhere............

[n4m]

Let me get this straight, it's still ok to took down on people who aren't educated to the same extent you, yourself, are. It's still ok to look down on people who earn less money than you do. and it's still ok to look down on people from some other place than the one in which you live?
Because, I would really hate to get something as important as who to hate, wrong.

[peacegurl48]

Looking done one's nose, while wrong, is very different from hate groups that incite bodily harm against people who are not like them...very different. Hate and violence of any kind is wrong.

The rhetoric of Palin's campaign was aimed at inciting hate and fear as well as divisions in terms of "good/patriotic" America vs. "bad/unpatriotic America".

[Macklyn]

Looking down one's nose, while wrong...

Yep, wrong is wrong, bigotry and bias are bigotry and bias, 'nough said.

[n4m]

I debated whether substitute hate for "look down on",. I decided to use hate because they are in the same spectrum of human thought and behavior.
Substitute "liberal" and the other words and phrases used to demonize the left by those on the right, and they don't sound so different.

[zenlikejen]

Merely thinking you are an i diot is one thing, k illing said person for their i diocy is totally different.

[rjmiller]

There on people here from every state in the country, probably nearly every country in the world, and all income brackets and education levels. It's called the internet. Welcome.

In any case we're not looking down on poor, uneducated Southerners, we're looking down on racists. The fact that these two demographics share some people in common has nothing to do with it.

[adamlamas]

In defense of the south, they have contributed some brilliant and beautiful artists, scientists, and politicians through out history. The south is actually quite stunning on an aesthetic level, depending on where you are. But there is no denying that the southern reality tunnel is very different and to some degree archaic when compared to the west and the north east. The south to some degree has been victimized by an American government that has never paid enough attention to education.

[dortmunder]

Aside from Native Americans, Southerners are the only people in this country's history who have ever truly experienced defeat in war, and being conquered and occupied by a "foreign" army. There is ample psychological baggage that comes along with that, even to this day. As a native German, and not excusing the despicable actions of my grandparents' generation, I can relate somewhat. One could compare young, white, southern racists with the huge surge of young neo-nazis who emerged from the eastern parts of Germany after the Wall came down. The only real solution here is to provide education and economic stability to those regions where this type of hatred is bred. Poverty, ignorance and racism go hand-in-hand.

[island-in-alabama]

It's also being victimized by the sort of thinking this thread is rife with (not your post, which is very thoughtful and which I appreciate).

The South is full of good people, who need help from the rest of our fellow citizens to stand against bigotry, not denigration by a series of flip posts that suggest secession, or otherwise denigrate all who live in the South just because there are many bigots there.

We're not all bigots, and we deserve better.

Folks might want to take a page from Obama and consider how we can build bridges to close our divides, and celebrate and grow from our diversity, rather than bridging off, or otherwise discarding the South.

Those of us who live here need your help, not your disdain.

[dortmunder]

Let's not forget also that at least one of the incidents the article mentions occurred in Pennsylvania. Certainly above the Mason-Dixon.

[claudiam]

These people are pathetic. There is no excuse for this type of behavior. We need to put a school on everycorner where these low information people live! Education is the key. White Americans need to get over themselves. These people do not have half the intelligence or education Barack has. Just because their skin color is different they are superior? I think not! This is one of many reasons why Barack's election is so critical for this nation. claudiatucsonaz

[shirleen01]

This is just the ignorant creed.

[iPolitics]

Interesting

http://strangemaps.wordpress.com/2008/11/15/330-from-pickin-cotton-to-pickin-presidents/

[YesWeDid]

Yeah, right, some southern states are thinking about secession. Just a minute, I'm having trouble typing because I'm laughing so hard. I suppose they're contemplating a Civil War do-over. LMAO big time!

[STUPIDgit]

Doubt they'd be able to do it for real. But when you look back at how the black community reacted in LA when Rodney King was beaten by some cops. It's scary to think what would happen if these white-supremacists succeed in any of their plans. We'd have 1960's style riots and ethnic clashes again.

[stayinsouth1981]

Dahling, it's referred to as The War Between the States or THE WAR OF NORTHERN AGRESSION.

[abrock12]

There aren't any states considering secession. What you have are a bunch of ignorant people talking about it. They also haven't quit talking about it since the Civil War. Don't confuse extremists with actual states.

[island-in-alabama]

Thank you for making the point so well.

There are fools and one of them got quoted suggesting secession. If they don't like America, they can leave. They don't get to take my State with them.

[Macklyn]

Shall we progressives/liberals just join the ranks of those we just removed from office with a little typecasting and geographic snobbery? I'm a 51 yo white male born and raised in Alabama and I sent my money to Obama, Hillary, Edwards, Franken, Hagan, Strickland and whoever ran against Bachmann. PE Obama was/is smart enough to have a 50 state strategy, I tried to support that. It is a shame that some posters here don't seem to...

[GaGal]

Thank you.

[ngannon]

Unfortunately racism is everywhere. I live in MA - and I am stunned at some of the bigoted, racial comments that I have heard during this election period. Fortunately the sane people outnumber the crazies but it is still shocking that some people actually think the way that they do. I imagine that it is a combination of poverty, lack of education, fear, ignorance and other social factors that breeds this bigotry- hopefully it will be something that will disappear from society eventually and I believe that an Obama presidency will assist greatly in that.

[island-in-alabama]

I gave to the same set of folks you did, and thank you for making this point.

The stereotyping of Southerners in this thread is shameful and demonstrates the same sort of ill-informed arrogance and smug superiority that racists do. The irony is painful.

We can only hope that Obama can overcome not only the arrogance of the racists, but apparently that of his own supporters as well.

The point of the article was to make clear that we have a lot to overcome - and we need to start by shining light on bigoted actions, and making it clear that they are not tolerable.

We don't overcome one form of intolerance (racism) by applying another (geographical intolerance).

[Hillblogger]

It seems that racial bigotry was simply dormant but with the election of a black candidate (matter of fact, Obama is half-white), violent racism of the Klu Klux Klan variety has re-awakened to rear its very ugly head with despicable vigour and has shamelessly contaminated the young.

[island-in-alabama]

We can work against this by making it clear to our young that this is intolerable behavior.

This stuff needs to be reported to the press, and by the press, and must be condemned by all of us - citizens, politicians, clergy and media.

Remember, it was the shame of America when they saw, on TV, how minorities were treated, that did much to make bigotry socially unacceptable.

We need to do this again, make it clear that bigotry is not acceptable behavior.