What Does Obama's Presidency Mean for Race in America?

I think it Barack Obama's election will say less about race than many expect. That's because he's likely to say very little about it during his presidency. My understanding of life is: problems don't go away by ignoring them. But politics allows limited candor on certain issues and race is certain one of them.

Race operates on a number of levels and his ability to get elected president is something my generation of African Americans isn't terrible shocked by. We thought it would happen during our lifetimes, we just didn't know when. While his election is a tremendous milestone, America's racial issues can't be undone by the presence of one person, no matter how powerful. In that regard, Obama represents one tree in a much larger forest and we shouldn't overstate his potential to change the way we deal with racial issues.

Obama's election is tremendous. But I've long wondered if he would have been so validated by the larger society if he were not biracial or graduated from Morehouse College (alma mater of Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. among many others) instead of Columbia University and Howard University School of Law (alma mater of Vernon Jordan, Doug Wilder, David Dinkins, among many others) instead of Harvard. Further, I think the deracialized campaign and the fear of being characterized as a "Black" presidential campaign reveals a great deal about the state of race in America. Would he be president if he were seen as the "Black" candidate or willing to discuss the issues that have a unique impact on African Americans? I think not. He would have scared too many Whites.

Ultimately, Obama's election should be seen as a jewel in the crown of the civil rights movement. The work that took place during the 1960s to ensure integration and other groundbreaking change made it possible. Many of the young whites who were drawn to Obama had a far more integrated upbringing either directly - through their neighborhoods and schools - or indirectly through popular culture.

We all should celebrate this great achievement for a man and the nation. We should resist the urge to hang the "mission accomplished" sign on our racial problems. That would erroneously discount the likelihood of racial prejudice rearing its ugly head in local and statewide elections. Not every candidate is as eloquent and comforting as Obama. Not every campaign gets this kind of attention.

Comments

[luziannagirl]

11:32 AM on 01/21/2009

Another thing it says to me is that regarding white Caucasian males, we still are willing to gladly accept mediocrity (or, in George W. Bush's case, sub-mediocrity) .

For non-whites and women to rise to positions of high power, they must be almost superhuman in their abilities.

We'll make progress when enough of us finally realize that this double standard is as unfair to white men as it is to everyone else.

[mauibob]

06:42 PM on 01/20/2009

Thanks to the reverend Lowery's speach, we see the biggest part of racism is coming from the blacks. Did not hear any condemnation of the comment about whites. It is like it is still 40 years ago. We are over it. when will you? Lets celebrate the day and start arguing policies.

[TommyMcCarthy]

07:02 PM on 01/20/2009

to be fair, that may be an easier argument to make on Maui than it is in ...say..... Oakland, there bob

tm

[Byron Addison]

05:02 PM on 01/20/2009

This article was very well written. While this is a major step in the right direction there is still much racism in America. The black unemployment rate is always double that of whites. I am originally from rural Louisiana and believe me racism is alive and well.

[MsMeryMac]

03:56 PM on 01/20/2009

Obama's campaign and election certainly hearken more to Martin Luther King than Malcolm X. His message of hope and change inspire thoughts of the early civil rights movement, the freedom rides, the lunch counter sit-ins and the hope of integration more so than the disillusionment and separatism of the Black Power movement. I agree with what you've said about him not focusing on race much. It concerns me that because he has almost downplayed race, and that everyone is in such a touchy-feely good mood about this inauguration and administration, that most people will now assume racism is over. If Obama's election is the culmination of the civil rights movement, many will assume that there's no more to do in terms of race relations in America. And the sad fact is that there is still rampant racism in almost every town and city in this country.

[1Marie23]

03:27 PM on 01/20/2009

The stupid prayer at the end of the Inauguration ruined it for me- how racist was that? Who let the old preacher repeat that jingle? It was nasty and uncalled for. Is reverse racism OK?

[Nia1999]

03:06 PM on 01/20/2009

As an African American who will be turning 50 in July, this is the best Birthday Day present I've ever had in my life. As a kid growing up in Detroit in a predominately Polish (Poletown) neighborhood during the 1960's, racial conflict did not directly effect us. As the only African American family in neighborhood most of our friends were white. Yes, we fought and called each other names (eventhough we did not know what n _ _ _ _ _ or cra _ _ _ _ _ meant) it was something we heard from the grown up's. What was more important to us both black and white was having enough kids to pick teams for baseball in the alley, enough kids to play hide and seek with at night, or someone to play hopscotch or jacks with. In school we had assembly. We proudly put our hands over our hearts, pledged allegiance to the flag, and sung "my country tis of thee". This is the American I know and want my grandkids to grow up in. This is why I cried today and sang "Happy Birthday" to me.

Congradulations America ~ Congradulation President Barack Obama

[UtahLiberal435]

02:48 PM on 01/20/2009

To answer the title's question: It means people are going to have to quit whining and get over it all.

Man, having visited some of most racist societies on earth (Ecuador, Japan, South Africa, India) all I can say is this country sure spends a TON of time on industrial-level wanking about fuggin' "race."

Victimization as hobby, and whining as the convenient pastime of a relatively well-off society.

Obama means it's time to grow up and start looking in the mirror, taking responsibility for your own failings as well as your sucessess - rather than blaming failure on someone else.

It's move on time.

[UKOH]

01:57 PM on 01/20/2009

I am a white Brit living in an almost exclusively white county in Ohio. I campaigned actively for Obama and, in a Republican stronghold, we increased his vote to the level needed to help him win Ohio.

Almost all of the people I was dealing with were white, mostly blue collar workers, exactly the demographic he was supposed to have problems with. The support for him was tremendous. In answer to your question - race did not matter here in Ohio. Nobody I came in contact with was voting for or against him because of his race.

Frankly I think that is the way it should be. Obama won simply because he was clearly the best person for the job. His background, ethnicity and religion were quite unimportant.

I think it is absolutely fantastic that an African American family is now the first family. However I regard it as a bonus from electing a great president. While Obama's victory is a huge step forward I completely agree with those who say MLK's "dream" is not yet fulfilled. Personally, I treat all people equally and am "color blind" when it comes to race. I like to think that the dream will truly be fulfilled when it is natural to do so and we stop talking about race.

[EasyCheese]

01:55 PM on 01/20/2009

I'm tired of people playing up the race card. The majority of America is not rascist.

[Urgelt]

01:18 PM on 01/20/2009

As far as policy is concerned, I suspect Professor Fauntroy's assessment is correct.

There is more going on here than policy, however.

Every time Obama looks presidential, every time he uses his oratorical prowess to communicate, it's an advertisement. There is an unspoken message, and it's one Americans will readily grasp. A Black American has risen to the highest office in the land, and he looks and sounds as Presidential as any past President (and better than the last guy, by far).

Policies are all very well and good, but the hardest nut to crack is attitudes and emotions. I think we just might make some progress on those during Obama's Presidency.

[luziannagirl]

11:22 AM on 01/20/2009

Well. One thing it says about race in America is that it's a myth that merit never trumps color.

I just wonder what the racial discussion will be like tomorrow, without the old myth to fall back on.

[Angelzfantasy4]

10:19 AM on 01/20/2009

What was the purpose of this article? The statements that the author chose to back his facts are quite thin. For example the author stated "But I've long wondered if he would have been so validated by the larger society if he were not biracial or graduated from Morehouse College... instead of Columbia University and Howard University School of Law" How many presidents can you name who didn't go to ivy league school?

I believe that Obama didn’t attempt to run a multi-racial campaign, because (shock shock) he is multi racial! So perhaps he could have been just trying to be himself.

Do I believe that his election alone is a cure-all for ANY of the America's problems? Definitely not! Anyone who does is a fool. It going to take lots of hard work, grit and sweat to get our country in a shape that will be beneficial to ourselves let alone the rest of the world.Seems as if people have forgotten that it takes hard work to be successful!

Whether people are for Obama or against him, we must all recognize the accomplishments he has achieved. Even if he is only a token of inspiration for my people, I will be happy with that. Now I KNOW that being a middle class black person, my child has a chance to actually do anything he/she chooses to do.

[overd0g1]

09:35 AM on 01/20/2009

At a minimum, it sets a floor for how racist American society could possibly be. That's a good thing.

[LeonBNJ]

06:21 AM on 01/20/2009

One of the most critical choices of Obama during his campaign was to not just be a canidate for Black America, but for all Americans. To me tried to find issues, mainly economic, that crossed racial and income levels. He steered very well around issues like Affirmative Action, giving more money for mainly Black and Hispanic urban areas, or just being around Black politicans, so not to turn off the white voters, especially from the suburbs, he needed to win.
Obama as President is not going to end the deeply entrenched racism in America, but he will help to move America further along towards a less degree of it by his presence and hopefully good policies.

[mergina]

06:06 AM on 01/20/2009

What i sincerely hope it means is that EVERYONE STOPS TALKING ABOUT RACE. Stop seeing in colour when most of us are long past that.

[Lilly06]

09:10 AM on 01/20/2009

I more than any hope that is not the case. We should see race but we should appreciate our differences instead of allowing them to separate us. We shouldn't live under the notion that 'we are one race the human race' because that is not true.

Why is sickle cell only present in people who are black or part black? We are different but we should use the diversity amongst us to prevail. Not seeing race is just ignoring the issues.

[overd0g1]

09:38 AM on 01/20/2009

That's like saying that ignoring someones astrological sign is just ignoring the issues. What you mean is denying something that actually exists. Racism will be stamped out at roughly the same time lust is stamped out.