It came to my office at the newspaper, as so many of these missives do, with no return address or signature -- the first proof that whoever sent it wasn't convinced enough of their words to put their own name on the line.
"Congrats all niggers of the world" read the first line, the starting point for a hateful, page-long typed diatribe filled with similar slurs and lots of allusions to black folks pimping and selling drugs.
Gotta be honest, I expected this way before now. And it's probably a measure of how scared some racists are that America is on the verge of electing its first black president.
Is this what Catholics endured when John F. Kennedy got elected? Were they subjected to letters about the Pope running the country from Italy? (Probably.) Did they wade through paragraphs of invective about the crimes and disease Catholics brought from Europe as immigrants? (I bet so.) Strange to know that, far as we've come as a nation in some ways, in others we haven't moved that far at all.
In a weird way, I find it heartening that I've only gotten one of these letters so far, in months of writing about a singular candidacy that is poised to change the country, just by virtue of who sits at the top of the ticket.
I stumbled on similar sentiments while checking out talk radio this morning, curious about how the ultra conservatives who dominate the medium would feel about this most special of Election Days. What I heard was area personality Mark Larsen joking about how a line of black voters at a Florida polling site looked "like the take out line at Big Tim's Barbecue" joint.
Is there any time in our history where such a line sounded more out-of-date and backward?
If Barack Obama does win today's election, I suspect his ascent will challenge our perceptions of race in ways we won't expect. Obama won't champion black issues in the way we've expected from more traditional politicians of color, disappointing some. And I suspect some people will see his election as the end -- proof positive that race problems in America are mostly solved -- instead of the beginning of a tough fight to address race and class inequality throughout the land.
So for me, an Obama win will feel like the exciting beginning to a new phase of our journey together. And if McCain wins, I'm going to try hard not to feel like we've taken a giant step backward.
Can't wait to see the letters I'm going to get tomorrow.
Follow Eric Deggans on Twitter: www.twitter.com/Deggans
One Nation
some will choose to stay behind in the dark and lonely anger and hate. it's unfortunate.
My hope is that with Barack Obama as our probable President, our country will unite in many ways. We, all of us, have work to do and with a leader who brings out the best in so many, I will roll up my sleeves. For the record, I am a white female in my forties.
At the same time, I have never seen so many non-black people stepping up to defend my personal dignity because when they abuse one of us for race, they abuse us ALL so its VERY personal to hear Barack being called an "n" word. Its very uplifting to see people who are not black standing up in so many numbers to say: "ENOUGH!"
I'm gonna cry so hard if he wins and I thank you all for being decent people.
"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." -MLK Jr-
I see prejudice and discrimination coming primarily from a lack of exposure and understanding. Once people get to know me and understand my deafness, we're fine. But I do have all sorts of problems with new people who don't know me or understand deafness.
I think most people have an inborn tendency to distrust the new and unfamiliar, whether race, disability, culture, or whatever it might be. So electing Obama might actually be the very best thing we can do to reduce racism, because then the whole country will become familiar and comfortable with a black person as the leader of our country, and this may extend to their everyday life.
Granted, that's an optimistic view, because we've certainly had plenty of black celebrities in the limelight, and that hasn't eliminated racism. But electing Obama as President shatters a whole different barrier, and may well also shatter other preconceptions and help people become familiar with a wonderful black family in the White House, and thus bring a whole new level of familiarity and comfortableness that will reduce racism.
We can dream, right? And Obama certainly brings me more hope than any politican has before in my lifetime.
Go Obama/Biden!
If you like to write to the BBQ line comment radio personality!!
This seems to be the last hook these types have. What happens when being white won't be your safe-haven as a racist? The world is changing.
People who use their whiteness as a "get out of jail free card" are scared because they will have to finally be about something. They'll actually have to think.
It's time to get over it people. It's just skin. Time to grow up racist Americans.
I have to admit I'm still working on eliminating racist thoughts. To see all people as equals. To see that all people have the same opportunities. I hope to see this accomplished in my lifetime.
That is just one of the many reasons I voted for Barack Obama. I believe he can bring the majority of Americans together under one vision, one hope, one purpose.... a better world for all people.
Thanks again.
Just shows that they know what they are doing is stupid and their thinking is wrong. If they REALLY believed in their convictions they would have either said it to your face, or they would have signed their name.
I really hope that people will start to see that the color of your skin is not what one should be judged on. It's not up to Obama to show this to people, it's up to THEM to see it for themselves.
My parents raised us to know that no one is different, we all have hopes and dreams, we all have feelings..we all want the same things for our families..Barack Obama I truly believe will bring faith and hope back to our country.
When I read about the hate letter you received I was surprised at what a powerful effect that had on me. I was very saddened and on the verge of tears even though I know that African Americans in your country face that and worse and probably quite often. I understand that the bigots and raciists out there are getting their source of strength from actions like your hate letter because of their own deficiencies and shortcomings. In their pathetic lives they have nothing else to make them feel important and relevant - they are so lacking in their own confidence and abilities that they take the easiest path and attack others who are successful by focusing on their race. In Canada I was watching a news story on our CBC about how the world is holding its breath in anticipation of an Obama win. It appears that countries all over the world are poised to celebrate if he does.. I hope that that fact gives you hope and confidence and optimism that most of the world is not like the person that sent you the hate letter. In my household we have the champagne chilling and are decorating an Obama cake - we have never done anything like that for a Canadian election. Let that hate letter go and celebrate with the rest of the world as we celebrate with you on Obama's win.
Kleenex stock should go up for a week, nobody will be dry eyed.
It is a blessed relief to let go of the grief that Bush drenched us with.
I know I am jumping to the conclusion that Obama wins, but it won't be because we didn't vote for him...if he loses.
"I find it heartening that I've only gotten one of these letters so far, in months of writing about a singular candidacy that is poised to change the country, just by virtue of who sits at the top of the ticket."
What that says to me, is that open racism is hopefully on the decline in America. But I would argue that covert racism is growing. The major components of this new era of racism are built into our institutions, and in our media in subtle forms. It is lurking now below the surface in intangibles that are still real products of the socially constructed system that has yet to truely crumble. If affirmative action is done away with at this point, as they are trying to do in Colorado with Amendment 46 and have done in other states, it will be a step backward in equality for all.
That kind of thing is really discouraging, because it means that no amount of intention can completely stop the problem.
There is no net increase, simple a change in level of the dwindling remainder.
You are right that it still exists and needs to be fought, but there is no reason to believe that there is some secret increase, just the dying spasms of ignorance and intolerance.
Racism is not over, but Barak winning the Oval office is another solid step towards the day that racism is a footnote of American history and not a daily occurance for some of our citizens.