Spring Break
Has race gone out the window?
Obama's win may signify a 'maturing' America
Elise Phillips, Assistant Pulse Editor
Issue date: 11/6/08 Section: Opinion
Less than 50 years ago, whites and blacks couldn't share the same bathroom. Less than 50 years ago, whites and blacks couldn't sit in the same part of a city bus in many parts of the country. Less than 50 years ago, blacks fought for the right to eat lunch at the same counter as whites.
But on Tuesday, after years of injustice, prejudice and wrongdoing, the American people elected its first black president-Barack Obama.
And he won by a landslide-he pocketed almost twice the Electoral votes that McCain did-349, well over the 270 he needed to win the presidency.
No hanging chads or recounts here.
Whether you voted for Obama and agree with his politics or not, his win is an unprecedented event in our nation's history. But does his win signify a change in prejudice attitudes in our country? Have we evolved as a nation?
According to an MSNBC exit poll released yesterday, 43 percent of eligible white voters in the United States voted for Obama.
Does that mean that that almost half of the country has no issues with race? Or does that mean that 43 percent of the U.S. doesn't care about the color of their president but do care about race in other contexts?
I think the latter. I think that a brilliant, eloquent, sincere half-white, half-Kenyan man won the hearts of the majority of Americans. But I don't think that bigotry in America is on its way out. I think that we have just begun the journey of healing and restoration between races in our country.
I feel like I can talk about this, because I am white and engaged to a black man, and I have seen the nasty looks and heard the comments. I've experienced discriminatory attitudes. In fact, on Election Day, I witnessed some of these attitudes first-hand. I had the wrong color fiancé, and therefore was almost prohibited from entering the polling place with him. What a shame.
The media can talk about how far we have come as a country all they want, but like I said, this path will be a long and hard one-even though Obama's victory is historical.
But on Tuesday, after years of injustice, prejudice and wrongdoing, the American people elected its first black president-Barack Obama.
And he won by a landslide-he pocketed almost twice the Electoral votes that McCain did-349, well over the 270 he needed to win the presidency.
No hanging chads or recounts here.
Whether you voted for Obama and agree with his politics or not, his win is an unprecedented event in our nation's history. But does his win signify a change in prejudice attitudes in our country? Have we evolved as a nation?
According to an MSNBC exit poll released yesterday, 43 percent of eligible white voters in the United States voted for Obama.
Does that mean that that almost half of the country has no issues with race? Or does that mean that 43 percent of the U.S. doesn't care about the color of their president but do care about race in other contexts?
I think the latter. I think that a brilliant, eloquent, sincere half-white, half-Kenyan man won the hearts of the majority of Americans. But I don't think that bigotry in America is on its way out. I think that we have just begun the journey of healing and restoration between races in our country.
I feel like I can talk about this, because I am white and engaged to a black man, and I have seen the nasty looks and heard the comments. I've experienced discriminatory attitudes. In fact, on Election Day, I witnessed some of these attitudes first-hand. I had the wrong color fiancé, and therefore was almost prohibited from entering the polling place with him. What a shame.
The media can talk about how far we have come as a country all they want, but like I said, this path will be a long and hard one-even though Obama's victory is historical.
Viewing Comments 1 - 5 of 7
Justin
posted 11/06/08 @ 2:47 PM EST
So, and I am just asking about your comment in this article. Are you saying that you think the other 57% of white people in this country that decided not to vote for Obama are redneck racists. (Continued…)
Concerned Citizen
posted 11/06/08 @ 4:08 PM EST
Race was definitely an issue in this election...Red or Blue. I'm sure that there were McCain or even Barr supporters that voted not to have a Black president, but per the voting numbers that was probably the minority of voters. (Continued…)
A little offended
posted 11/07/08 @ 2:48 PM EST
Thank you for the article, I understand the acknowledgement that not all racial boarders are going to be fixed overnight with the President-elect Obama, and I agree. (Continued…)
Mr. Jones
posted 11/08/08 @ 11:32 PM EST
We all know this. Voting is a complicated process. We give our allegiances to people, parties, candidates, and issues for all sorts of reasons. We vote for some people because we like them even though we disagree with them. (Continued…)
Sinjun
posted 11/10/08 @ 9:21 PM EST
You know what the sad thing is.. all of those people who voted for Obama because of his skin Color? That's Rasism as well. what else can you call voting for someone because of their skin color. (Continued…)
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