Some Thoughts on Obama and Race

I'll riff a little here.

As I sit here, it is 10:01 EST, and already it appears as though Obama will storm his way into the White House; he currently has a commanding lead over John McCain, having already amassed 195 electoral votes--with 55 more in California not even being a part of that total. Barring a tremendous meltdown or a serious Bradley Effect, Obama looks to win the Presidency, and do so quite easily.

Having said this, I'll admit that it's going to be amusing to watch all the vitriolic right-wing hacks stew on this one; they've already played every card they can in advance (almost surely because they knew McCain would not win this election), from the "Obama's supporters are zombies" card, to the oldie-but-goodie "people are only voting for Obama because he's black" card. More than that, though, it's going to be downright funny to hear the same old doom and gloom predictions from people who would rather be right than see the guy do well as President. When educated, esteemed men like Thomas Sowell start pushing the obtuse "Change is bad. Look at what happened in China and Cuba" line of reasoning, you know all common sense has gone out of the window. However, I'll temper my comments by saying this: most of America probably isn't as rigidly right wing as the Michelle Malkins and Ann Coulters of the world are, and isn't as looney leftist as Al Franken. Thus, my words here only apply to a section of society that isn't representative of people at large.

Moving on, though, to the issue of race; I must say that I am intrigued by the "Electing a black man President is a big step for America" line that's been touted by almost everyone from common folk to journalists. On one hand, this is obviously a true statement, but on the other, it's a reminder that we've got so far to go in terms of race relations. The latter is the part that people--namely, white people--don't like hearing. I can't tell you how many times I've heard the term "postracial" to describe Obama, or how many times I've read something to the effect of, "Electing Obama President will signify the end of America's racial problems." It's a nice idea in theory, but unfortunately, it isn't true. Any person who believes that electing a black man President means that issues for the rest of the black population are resolved needs his head checked. It's a big step in the right direction, but it is hardly the panacea to America's racial ills; quite frankly, it never was. The litmus test for racial progress was never whether or not a black man could be President; it was, and still is, whether or not blacks can get equal job opportunities, bank loans, and, in short, an equal chance to succeed. When you look at the rates of arrests and and degrees of punishment for blacks versus those of whites for the same crimes, one is hard pressed to see how Obama becoming President fixes the big race issue. This kind of thinking is wishful at best, and dangerous at worst.

The solution to the race issue is the same as it's always been, and it's not reparations (who the hell even pushes this anymore?), it's not pretending like shit didn't happen, it's not giving everyone five bullets to see which race comes out on top. The solution is dialogue, it's understanding, it's looking in the mirror and taking responsibility--for both sides. The idea that electing Obama suddenly makes up for decades upon decades of mistreatment or that it suddenly is going to alleviate resentment and anger is hoping for a quick fix. Given that, let's dead this idea, ok? It's pretty insulting when you think about it. We've got a lot of work left to do in healing this nation's wounds as it pertains to race. However, what's happening tonight goes to help a little in that regard. I'll know this nation is where it needs to be on race when a black man doesn't have to prove his blackness to black people, while at the same time having to prove that he's not "too" black. I'll know this nation is where it needs to be on race when we don't have any fools carving backwards Bs on their faces, only to blame anonymous big and scary black guys for it. I'll know this nation is where it needs to be when people don't seriously entertain questions of whether or not blacks will stop voting if a black guy doesn't get elected President. I'll know this nation is where it needs to be on race when guys like Joe the Plumber get laughed off the damn stage, when Tyrone the Barber and Craig the bus driver would've been from the start. I'll know this nation is where it needs to be on race when electing a black man President isn't such a big deal.

And I'll know this nation is where it needs to be on race when I don't feel the need to write posts like this.