A Post-Racial Society

Ok, I just have to jump into the first big racial debate in today's post-racial society. But before I begin let me just say how great it is to see that race doesn't matter anymore!!! Man, that racist period in America was tough. Glad it's over! Change is great!

I guess when we look back to see the bench marks of the birth of post-racial America many moments will come to mind. For instance the reaction that Bill Clinton got when he said that Obama's difference with Hillary on Iraq was a "fairytale." That was so racist!! Jeez, only a post-racial society could see how the word "fairytale" in relation to the Mideast was a secret code designed to trigger childhood memories of Ali Babba and the 40 thieves! Obviously the purpose of the Clinton statement was to associate the Obama campaign with thievery! When will the Clintons stop??? Only a post-racial society could see this horrible technique for what it was. We are the "we" we have been waiting for!

But I think my favorite benchmark will be the birth of our post-racial champions on race. Add to the top of the list Keith Olbermann. The cable news rising stars' statement on Geraldine Ferraro was great! Not only did Keith go for the jugular as only an Edward R. Murrow from a post-racial, pre-post-sexist society could do, but he is also set to begin a new era in media.

For decades Latinos, African Americans and other minorities have decried the lack of diversity on TV. The recent primary caucus coverage has been a glaring example. We have had non-Latinos on every broadcast and cable network pontificating on the Latino vote. In fact, only Anderson Cooper had a Latino commentator for the Texas primary and she was a GOP operative discussing what Latino Democrats wanted. The cable outlets provided only token representation of African American commentators mostly during primary coverage of states with significant African American voter bases. Pre-post-racial America was so frustrating! But now we have a champion for our cause. Olbermann, who is a cable news trendsetter is bound to use his increasing influence in cable news to insist that MSNBC hire more minority hosts and book more minority pundits as guest commentators. While he hasn't actually committed to that yet, I am sure it is to follow. Just look at how outraged he was at the clearly offensive Ferraro statements. If symbols and words anger the post racial-America champion on race then I sure the substance of discrimination must as well. As soon as Olbermann notices that his program has been devoid of.. lets say..."color" he is sure to correct it. Keith probably just hasn't noticed it yet. Some people just don't see color.

If an offensive comment from a years gone by politician sends KO into a tizzy just wait until he notices MSNBC's lineup! The news outlets are the factory of political perspective. Currently the factory only allows for a certain set of perspectives. I hate to be in the room when Keith realizes this. I foresee a 10-minute monologue with at least four different camera angles as soon as someone points this out to him. I am setting my TiVo now. Plus, just wait to see what happens when he finds out that he has been (obviously mistakenly) giving a regular platform to a guy, Pat Buchanan, who believes that Latino immigration to the U.S. is ruining "our culture." Hang on to your hats, hurricane Keith is sure to blow, and hard!!!

Yup, I am glad we have a new set of champions in post-racial America! But it just occurred to me: since we are post-racial do we really need the champions? Hmm, post-racial America is complicated.

Mario Solis-Marich is a post-Latino Latino who hosts a radio show that can be heard on www.GoToMario.com.

Comments

[ndolomar]

As an African-American woman married to a Latino, I was disturbed by the blatant racially divisive tactics used against blacks/Latinos out here in California. While I'm not naive enough to believe there isn't a racially charged problem between gangs of different races, the fact that numerous comments from the Clinton campaign asserted that blacks and Mexicans, who in my home state of Colorado always found camaraderie in their shared struggles, will never get along. It's as if Sen. Clinton's own supporter Antonio Villaraigosa forgot he received a huge portion of his mayoral votes from black Los Angelenos -- because he sure didn't pipe up to counter that misinformation coming from within the campaign, nor did he at least counter it when her supporters said such things. How sad that very few people recognize how much this mirrors 2000 and 2004, in that scapegoating (2000=gays; 2004=Latino immigrants) is such a frequent fall-back for candidates who find it difficult to expose their differences with their opponents. When all else fails, point out that he/she looks different from you -- yeah, that always works. I sincerely wonder if this was the "dialogue about race" the Clintons championed for so much during Bill Clinton's administration. What an icebreaker!!

[gplaw]

I agree. Black and Latino have always gotten along. I was completely shocked when I continued to hear that they did not. I am from Chicago, so the first thing I asked was are we talking about the Latin Kings and the Disciples? This is ridiculous! I cannot even say with a straight face that some of my best friends are Chicanos, Puerto Ricans, and Mexicans without sounding prejudice. LOL But it is true.

[LordGrowing]

Way to set up a strawman! Seven-plus years of Bush have taught the Left something after all.
Who was it again who proclaimed America a post-racial society? I can't find it. I'm pretty sure it wasn't Keith Olbermann.
Yes, MSNBC displays a shameful lack of diversity. But--credit where it's due--ever since Jesse Jackson called Keith on it (and he lamely answered that his regular fill-in host is black), I haven't been able to turn the channel on without seeing Eugene Robinson.
What any of this has to do with Geraldine Ferraro being a racist half-wit, I don't know.

[sistermoon]

Actually, It wasn't Keith O that Jesse called out, but David Gregory, who was filling in for Tweety on Hardball when the Imus controversy broke. Keith was among the NBC reporters that went to the network president and demanded Imus' firing.

[Susan Madrak - Huffpost Blogger]

Geraldine Ferraro isn't a racist. She's just a half-wit.

[MarineBugler]

I am glad you notice these things!