So lets say Obama becomes president...

Lets say Barrack Obama becomes president. How do you think this will affect black and white relations in the United States? Lets say he does a phenomenal job and actually makes positive changes(lets just say); the environment gets cleaned up, the economy bounces back, hell, even movies and music become good again.

Do you think national perception will change towards black people?


I know this is a possibly silly question. But I have thought about it a lot, but when I think about I think, "What if he becomes president and totally mucks things up?" Then will things become extremely odd/weird for black Americans?

meh.

 

I think it will to alot of people.

But on the other hand,i have a gut feeling that alot of people will try to point out that hes a foriegn black (kenyan) and will still think that U.S born blacks (whos ancestors went through slavery) are still all f*ucked up.They will say that african blacks go to the states and furthur their education and achieve more than alot of U.S blacks.Basically,they will use foreign blacks as a buffer.
I already see a bunch of racist people doing this.

I just hope if hes elected,he will motivate and inspire alot of U.S black men to further their education and make something of themselves.Hope Obama shows them that they dont have to dribble a ball,catch a football,or rhyme over beats,to make it in life.

About him getting into the white house and bombing terribly,i was thinking the same thing.What if he bombs,then people will be like "see what happens when you make a black man a president?"...but i dont think he could possibly be as bad as bush

but just in case,im praying that if hes elected,he dosent bomb lol

 

The first part of your post is interesting because I've noticed that most people will peg him as black, as in garden variety American black without much thought.

 

Yeah,no doubt that the majority of people sees him as "black"...as do the white supremacist.
Im talking about the people who have experiences with african foreign blacks,and u.s blacks good or bad.For example,a white buiss man who works along side african blacks may pretty soon come to a stereotypical conclusion like "foreign blacks are hard working,smart people and u.s blacks are lazy,unemployed dumb people.Ive seen this happen alot.They'll be working along side smart blacks in the workplace who happen to be foreign,then on the drive home see thuggish u.s blacks on the corner doing whatever...and come to a stereotypical conclusion.

 

You guys are all right.

I actually believe that an Obama presidency has the potential to either make race "relations" better or worse for America. Let's start with the negatives first. If and when he gets to the White House, Barack will try his best to absolve all notions that blacks are "taking over". Believe me, a number of hatemongers have started peddling such notions around. In fact, i ran onto a certain poster on some right wing website who said that an Obama presidency will "enable black men to take over our country and drag out women with them to the white house".

Anyway, for better or worse, Obama is, and will be seen as a "black President". Just like the black columnist, black coach, black congressman, black professor, he simply cannot avoid the all-too-common racial pigeonholing embedded in the American psyche. And as such, everything single thing he does, from the nominees he puts forward as Cabinet members to the foreign leaders he invites to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave will be viewed through a racial microscope. Put simply, he will be judged as a black man. What he does or doesn't do will enhance his critics to judge him as a black President, rather than just a President.

In order not to be judged as a black President, Obama will simply pick white males as his key confidents such as Secretary of State, Defense, Treasury and Chief of Staff. He'll place tokens in meaningless second tier positions such as Secretary of Veterans' Affairs but the meaningful positions which shake up the country shall be filled with white males and the occasional white woman. Anything else will be seen as racial and ethnic pandering.

Whats more, issues like civil rights enforcement, urban renewal and the criminal justice system are unlikely to take centerfold in January 2009 should he win the 270 electoral votes on November 4. As we've seen, he has barely spoken in depth about those issues for fear of alienating the much needed white voters and perhaps that is politically advantageous, but the longer he stays away from those issues, the more blacks will be pissed off. And like it or not, Obama still needs black voters for all the white liberal support he has garnered. He won't have won any of the Southern states on Super Tuesday but for black voters and that simply is one constituency Democrats of all races cannot avoid. So he faces a real dilemma here. He cannot completely ignore such issues but he's unlikely to urge Harry Reid and Pelosi to call votes on such issues either. And such things could further engulf racial progress in America. How he handles it remains to be seen.

More importantly, an Obama presidency will be to some (read: whites and the occasional black conservative bojangles) the ultimate proof that America has transformed into a post-racial moment. Such a belief allows them to sidestep evidence that suggests the contrary such as the high incarceration rates for blacks, higher mortgages, loan denials, police friskings to mention a few. Of course, having black faces in high places might provide psychological paracetamol for some and may be great for photo ops, but all too often such characters are often trotted out for the Cosbyesque gospel of "self responsibility". To put it bluntly, if Obama can make it, so can you. Now get off your black ass and work hard. My friends, that can cause for real setbacks to the racial "dialogue" in America.

But hey, it doesn't have to be all bad. For better or worse, an Obama presidency reinforces the notion of America as a benevolent country despite its ills. Many, if not most blacks see America as their one and only despite its ugly history of racism, legally entrenched and historical embedded segregation and discrimination. To quote the great (black) comedian Chris Rock, "For black people, America is kinda like the uncle that paid your way to college, but molested you". Most African Americans will be undeniably proud that a man of African ancestry (enough of the "black enough" bullshit, please) can rise to the top and become not Vice President, but President of the United States. Instead of waiting at O'Hare Airport in Chicago for his next flight, he'll be landing and taking off in that big ol' Air Force One. Even though it might not be the ultimate kumbaya in the race relations choruses, such notions are a fulfilment and manifestation of the American Dream (which i believe in, by the way).

In addition, it'll make way for a new discourse in the way we view race in all spectrums of the American psyche from sports to politics, especially the latter. For the years following the Civil Rights and Voting Rights Acts of 1964 and 1965, black politics has been dominated by the much recognised "old guards" of the civil rights movement such as Maynard Jackson, John Lewis, Jesse Jackson and John Conyers. But in the most recent years, the new wave of black politicians are not tied to the old times. Many of them are young professionals with Ivy League credentials and are not tied with the emotional and political strings of the Civil Rights Movement. Examples of these include Deval Patrick, Cory Booker, Harold Ford Jr and of course Senator Barack Obama. These are people who've been able to foster a new chapter in race and politics and they've done so successfully. And because there are more younger blacks today than older ones, it stands to reason that younger blacks would much more identify with Deval and Barack than Jesse and John Lewis. These men would be able to construct a new way of approaching volatile issues and dislodge the "either/or" way of approaching divisive issues such as affirmative action.

Most importantly, if Barack is elected, it'll settle the much asked question of America's readiness to elect an African American president. If it happens - which i'm hopeful and positive it will - then perhaps many blacks will view whites in a way they never have before and then we can come a little bit closer. Bill Clinton as president made highly commendable strides in trying to heal the racial divides of America but i believe Barack Obama has the capability to go even further and it isn't simply because he's a black man but because he's from a different generation. Bill Clinton was raised in the 60s whilst Barack was born then. He came up in a different time and as exemplified from his strong support from young white voters, race isn't viewed the same way our parents might look at it. So that sets the path for a new and different racial paradigm.

Of course no one said it will be easy. But slow and steady wins the race.

 

I agree,especially on the bit about people thinking blacks are "taking over".I remember when callers were calling in to a radio station when asked if "latinos will vote for a black man".A female caller called in (hispanic female) and said that she "had black friends"(typical thing racist ppl usually say to cover up their racism)..but she said that if a black man becomes president "blacks will rise up...and...and..think that they run the country".She said that she dosent trust them as a group.
I found this to be some ignorant shit.Alot of minorities may not vote for obama because of jealousy.Jealous that we have a candidate of our race that could potentially be president,and they dont.That we got there first,and if they cant then nobody will.
The lady that called in acted as if mexicans had a candidate that could potentially become president,they wouldnt be parading down the streets with mexican flags on their cars?I mean come on.

I do agree that obama will try to reassure whites that blacks arent necessarily taking over.If you ask me,hes doing that right now distancing himself from the likes of sharpton and farrakhan.

 

If Obama becomes President, I'm popping a bottle of champagne...

On a further note, it will be interesting to see what he does in office.

As Malikom stated, the many ignorant and subconciously racists voters are going to stray from voting for Obama but if McCain is there only other choice, I wonder who they'll vote for.

Anyways, if he is electer there would be be a huge celebration for many Americans as well as a huge uproar.

I think it's what the nation needs. A little stirring up the pot to get things settled somewhat.

We have to face issues in order to deal with them and possibly put some of the issues behind us(whether momentarily or not).

 

I'm just trying to understand the notion, follow me, that I am almost compelled to have to support Obama merely based on the fact that he's black because I am also.

As a person I agree the man is well collected and charasmatic. But under the surface his policies, especially with regards to taxation are at odds with my beliefs.

I'm of a firm belief that I want government as far away from my life as humanly possible. I don't feel the need to be "made whole" by government or tax dollars.

I can understand that after the abomination that resides in the White House now anyone seems better. And He may be better, but for me far from ideal. To be honest of the three primary candidates left all of them are awful.

Obama is the current "it" candidate and will probably roll on to the nomination. God bless him, but as far as what he has proposed thus far, and all the hype and sizzle he's generated there's just little there to actually bank on.

I wish him all the luck in the world, but the notion that seems to be growing more and more amongst Blacks that we have to vote for Obama because he's black is annoying. This kind of thing happens all the time with us. Just vote for someone simply because he or she's like us. And we get let down everytime.

 

it's not just about slavery...

us born blacks have a higher chance at knowing someone, who has been through the institutionalized racism system in america. Or perhaps they've been through it themselves.

Tracing family back to slavery will be tricky..but riding the oppression train in general, is more feasible, as oppression, racism, and the overall idea that black people were second-class citizens, still existed well into the 20th century..

which was why the whole "civil rights" issue came up around the 60s.

As a result of that, black americans are not on equal footing as white people, in general, in america. We're still breaking barriers and pushing ourselves as a group tho. We just had some help getting to the bottom of society (along with staying there for so long), from which we are steadily rising up against.

 

I will simplify this for everyone......

If Obama wins the Presidency and does a GOOD JOB = HE WILL BE SEEN AS MULTICULTURAL...SON OF A KENYAN AND WHITE WOMAN FROM KANSAS



If Obama wins the Presidency and does a POOR JOB = HIS ASS IS A REGULAR BLACK AMERICAN NEGRO


I honestly think that he will be able to negotiate with foreign leaders more successfully because he actually HAS AN INTERNATIONAL BACKGROUND...the candidates talk about experience...but living in a country versus just visiting a bunch of countries are very different.....he won't try to patronize others and come off as the all protecting "big-brother" towards other nations.

I also think he will try and help Africa in ways that involve more than just throwing money at the problems.....but more than that....he might be better equipped to handle talks with Middle Eastern leaders

 

don't forget "dumb" and "smelly"

lol..

that's pretty deep tho...

:wink:

 

Agreed especially with the first bit.Whites want to claim him only if its convenient for them.

 

the second part of your post is why i am attracted to him as a candidate. America is not the hegemonic power it once was, we are now in world that rests on 'the big three'. The United States cannot call the shots like it once did and it now has to be highly considerate of other countries when coming to a conclusion. I think that because Obama has (to what I think to be) a wider perspective he will be willing to be more sensitive to working with other nations.

 

That would be hard. He has obvious black features. I am sorry to say but this is a proud black man first before a biracial man and we should all be proud of it

 

Honestly, i just hope he doesn't get assasinated if he gets in. All it takes is one crazy klan member with a rifle to pull a stunt like that. I hope he's a good president, but i hope he just doesn't get himself killed more than anything.

 

this will be one to watch, definitely

someone has to be the first one to do it tho

personally, I thought Secret Service details would get reinforced and take extra precautions because of that. However, not too long ago, his security at an event was actually lacking, and many people were wondering why. Think it had something to do with Secret Service members, stripping down civilian law enforcement security for him.

 

re

The thing is, not only racist, non-AA people want to find a discrepancy between the achievements a slave-descendant AA and foreign AA.

I work as a teacher in a predominantly AA high school in the South. When I prompted my students as to what their views were about having a black man for president, several students said "He's not black."

I've had similar responses in the past to Tiger Woods and Oprah, who are both slave-descendant AA.

 

Re: re

Funny you say that...when one considers that Tiger is darker than a lot of so called "black" people....hell he's darker than Malcolm X, Beyonce, Thurgood Marshall, Huey P. Newton etc.

 

glad that point was brought up, im getting really sick over the way this unfolding. I'm sick of African Americans(black americans) saying that Barack is not black enough. You will never hear any white americans say that about a candidate. The way people are dealing with the election points out america's obsession with race.


I would also like to hear more about Barack's take on the economy. Things are getting hairy.