Last night Obama clinched the democratic nomination. Although Hillary is too proud to admit defeat it does not change the outcome. I will state outright that I am a republican. Say what you will about Bush and I will laugh right along. However, the foundation of the republican party is what I support. Enough about that however, this is about race and Obama.
What Obama has achieved so far is certainly something that should be commended and respected. I for one am happy to see him achieve it, if he wins election and is the president I will be genuinely happy for him and what it says about how far this country has come concerning race relations. Yes, I will mourn the loss, and who knows how qualified he will be and how good of a job he will do, time would tell. But it will be a milestone for this country.
Who would have thought that a black man would ever be one of the contenders for president. I think about people I have known in the past, living and dead, who would be or are horrified by Obama because he is black. But this primary season has shown that these types are the minority. People and family I know now, and there are many, who are democrats have embraced Obama but if you would have asked me 2 years ago if they would support a black man I would have thought not.
Yes, big mouths like Jackson and Sharpton have made a run at president in the past but they will simply loud mouth fools who only really had one agenda and not the interests of the country. You never see them chumming it up with Obama and there is a reason for that. No, people like them serve to fan the flames of racial divide that whites created, blacks quickly and rightfully (at the time) inherited and has been diminishing the last 40 years.
It is my experience that racial hate and prejudice, which has always been a two way street is tilting more to the black side or at least a blind eye is turned towards it when it is black to white. I am not just talking about the crazed militant black demonstrators who feel the country owes them something for sins committed against their parents or grandparents. I am more talking about the mainstream personalities, Sharpton, Jackson, Obama's ex-Rev, who get away with saying things veiled and not so veiled that if the tables were turned would cause a major outcry. Also, the minor examples of prejudice that are demonstrated daily by blacks against whites, at the work, in the grocery store and many other public places.
People look the other way, why? What causes so much anger, distrust and loathing among some of the black population? I will give you a real example. My daughter who is in high school (60-70% white, 20-25% black) was sitting in class the other day. She had a coughing fit for whatever reason. Another girl two rows over who is black leans forward and asks "Are you okay cracker?", which causes much laughter (among white and black). I thought she handled it fairly well, she responded that humans sometimes get something caught her their throat and it causes them to cough. A comment that temporarily enraged the other girl for who knows what reason. My point is this, why? Why did the other girl feel empowered and the desire to call another white girl cracker? She certainly was the minority in the class so she certainly felt no fear of retribution from her classmates, and there was none of course. I wonder if a protest was lodged by my daughter whether there would be anything to come from it? I doubt it. Has she really been oppressed by whites that she felt she was striking out at her oppressors? I doubt it.
I have no answers to why, although it is something I would really like to understand. Coming back to Obama, his win and the ground swell of support he has received should serve to point out that this country, predominately white, has moved beyond the racial strife of the past and put away their fear and loathing.
Question is, when will blacks be able to put away theirs?