"I didn't know how racist America was until it elected its first black President."

[pnwmom]

Me, neither.

http://www.cnn.com/2016/06/30/politics/why-black-america-may-be-relieved-to-see-obama-go/

Richardson-Hall has restrained herself more than she ever expected in the past eight years. She fumed when she saw a poster of Obama dressed as an African witch doctor, online images of First Lady Michelle Obama depicted as a monkey, and racist Facebook comments by white people she thought she knew. Now, as Obama approaches his final months in office, she and others have come to a grim conclusion:

I didn't know how racist America was until it elected its first black president.

"What has happened over the past eight years -- there's no way to unlive or unsee it," says Mashaun D. Simon, a political blogger and teaching assistant at Emory University's Candler School of Theology in Atlanta.

There's been a lot of talk about angry white Americans and the rise of Donald Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee. But what about the anger that many blacks and others have felt over the treatment of Obama? What might that anger give rise to, and how is it changing them?

A psychological shift is taking place among many blacks, and it can be heard in countless conversations over dinner tables, in barbershops and on social media. Some say they've never felt so much pessimism about white America, such hopelessness.

SNIP

[Blue_Tires]

1. I don't know where Mrs. Hall is from

But I certainly did...

[pnwmom]

2. I was one of the deluded who thought that electing President Obama

meant we had achieved something we hadn't.

[Angry Dragon]

10. me too

[Spitfire of ATJ]

12. Seriously?

I chuckled to hear the pundits on the TV machine talking about a "post racial America".

They act like there is 100% public participation in elections.

There isn't.

Half of this country doesn't vote. Many of them could tell you details about every contestant in "Survivor" or who ate a bug on a dare but paid ZERO attention to politics until they woke up in 2008 hearing that there was a black man in THEIR White House and they flipped out. They flipped channels until they discovered FOX "News" who told them the black guy stole the election and wasn't even an American but some Muslim terrorist from "Kenya" which they figure must be in the Middle East.

Tell them different and they raise their voices in anger and if you're white they treat you like you're a traitor to not only the country but to your race.

[pnwmom]

67. Yes. Remember during the inauguration festivities how happy people were?

I was one of them because I thought that meant something substantial had changed.

[awoke_in_2003]

71. I actually watched the inauguration

I have never done that before. I remember getting momentarily choked up in the voting booth (though being in TX my vote didn't mean much) because I couldn't believe I actually had the opportunity to vote for an AA for president.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

86. The majority has been against racism for a LONG time....

Look at "All In The Family".

The character of Archie Bunker was considered to be rare and reviled back in the 70s.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

121. I disagree with respect. The vast majority of white Americans *did not* vote for President Obama.

Liberal whites banned together with blacks, Hispanics, Asians, etc. to vote for him, but the majority of whites voted for the Republican candidate.

In fairness, no Democrat since Bill Clinton has received the majority of white votes. Nevertheless, having Obama on the ticket as a black man, did not change things much. We see this now.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

134. Actually, it's the majority of white MALES....

They always seem to vote for the biggest asshole they can find.

It's not called "representative government" for nothing.

[MH1]

143. Excellent point!

They always seem to vote for the biggest asshole they can find.

It's not called "representative government" for nothing.

I want to laugh at that ... then I want to cry ...

[pnwmom]

146. The majority of white women also voted for Romney. n/t

[Elmer S. E. Dump]

144. Something did change

We finally had enough decent people vote to elect in a non-white President. I still give those people credit. It couldn't have happened without a evolving change in consciousness among many millions of people in this country.

That was the good news.

We all know about the bad news. I admit I was naive because none of these racist, homophobic, misogynist wastes of skin are among my social circle. And they are pretty much invisible in a town like Madison, WI.

I had no idea SO MANY people are so hateful. Sure, there are all types everywhere, but this many moronic shit-eaters took me by surprise.

Love will prevail in the end, but it will be a long and not pretty fight to the finish.

Pwnmom - Sorry if I said anything nasty to you during the primary fiasco (I'm sure I did). I'm starting fresh now.

[pnwmom]

147. If you did,

I don't remember, but I hope I didn't reciprocate. Anyway, happy to let bygones be bygones.

[Elmer S. E. Dump]

148. Oh yeah, I was in pitched battles.

So much fun...

Anyway, I still support Senator Sanders, but I will no longer be arguing or getting time-outs or any of that.

Time to take on Trump.

[maxsolomon]

17. You don't know you have roaches till you turn on the light.

It did mean something. I still believe that.

The MAJORITY of Voters have no problem with Obama's race - he won, after all.

You couldn't have designed a less objectionable African American: White Mom, African Dad, half Asian sister, raised by White Grandparents. He's the Melting Pot. If you had a problem with that, you're a Dead Ender.

And no one should give 2 craps about Dead Enders.

[CanonRay]

53. Spot on

[Surya Gayatri]

95. "It did mean something. I still believe that."

So do I.

[irisblue]

111. me too. It still does.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

122. Again, the majority of white Americans did not vote for Obama. Progressive whites did but not

the majority of white voters.

We need to come to terms with the pervasiveness of racism in this country and start being honest about this.

[maxsolomon]

138. I recognize that, but every white voter who chose McCain or Romney did not do it because of Racism.

Sure, plenty did. However, many, like my Dad, are just fucking idiot cheapskate Republicans.

If he was a Racist, he wouldn't have sent me to a public Arts Magnet school in 1973 that was 60% African-American, when I was in 5th grade. Or let me stay there until I graduated High School. Sure, no doubt he harbors some racial prejudices. Everyone does.

I've come to terms with the pervasiveness of racism in this country a long time ago. I honestly believe the number of bigots is decreasing, slowly but surely, but that it will take generations longer to be truly insignificant, and importantly: it will never be 100% eliminated.

Obama's presidency was a milestone, not the destination. It didn't create more racists, it just shined a light on the ones we've still got.

Tell me where I'm dishonest.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

141. I'll put it this way: Like the Simpsons episode where they call out Fox News...

Not all Republicans are racists, but most racists are more likely than not to identify with the Republican Party.

(and yes, sadly there are racists in the Democratic Party, too!)

[7962]

22. Of course we did. And he was elected TWICE.

Maybe it was a surprise to some the first time, but if there were SO MANY of them out there who couldnt stand the thought of a mixed race man in the white house, then those enormous numbers should have easily tossed him back out in '12. But that didnt happen! because the vast majority DONT have a problem with it.

[Politicub]

34. I was as well - it wasn't President Obama's fault

There was so much racism simmering under the surface. It saddens me.

Obama is the best president of my lifetime. The arc of history has been bent more toward justice. But the struggle never seems to end.

[JRLeft]

115. It was never under the surface it was always right there out in the open.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

123. Yes! Thank you! We go the Tea Party to help expose it, too. And sadly, some liberal whites.

[yuiyoshida]

131. This!

But with today's communication, tv, radio, and especially internet, it just seems to be louder than before. Go to youtube, and check out a video made by a person of color, and read the comments, it will turn your stomach. People hiding behind a keyboard either say things because its how they were brought up, or do it for shock value.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

140. Oh yes. As a black woman, I know all to well. The hatred directed at black women is unbelievable.

Type in "black women" and see the results in YouTube.

[yuiyoshida]

152. We Asian women get it also

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

160. Yeah I know! It's ridiculous!

[JRLeft]

150. Yep a lot of white liberals, have lived in a bubble for a long time.

My father told me a long time ago that police were going to fuck with me.

[Mojorabbit]

66. me too nt

[Melurkyoulongtime]

3. + billion nt

[bravenak]

45. I did too

[Solly Mack]

4. Wasn't surprised by it but it was still no less sickening.

'If you think this about him, what do you think of me?'"

That line really says it all.

[FailureToCommunicate]

5. Next we'll be seeing how misogynous America is if a woman is elected.

[840high]

8. Of course we will.

[PatSeg]

24. Yes

And I think we're already seeing it begin.

[LonePirate]

27. It's been on display during the entire election season so far. It will only get worse.

[PatSeg]

145. Whenever a woman

runs for a powerful office, it takes off.

I know people who once admired Hillary Clinton, but as soon as she was running for president, they started to buy into all the hate. The right has done a great job of demonizing Hillary over the years, to the point that even Democrats are buying their BS not realizing where the propaganda originated.

[Odin2005]

69. I'm already seeing it.

I have been genuinely shocked by how sexist so many of my fellow male Millennials are. I remember seeing an article saying that male Millennials are in some ways even more sexist towards women in tech and politics than our Boomer elders.

[pnwmom]

72. It's been surprising to me, too, as a mother of young men.

I haven't seen that with them or their friends, so I didn't realize how much was still out there.

[calimary]

91. No kidding. I KNOW you're right about that.

I'm so ashamed of the shit-show put on to block everything President Obama tried to do - the utterly pig-headed obstruction - MAN what sore losers!

When Barack Obama was elected in 2008, there was that one "brief shining moment" when they showed the crowds in Chicago, weeping for joy, so completely and deliriously flabbergasted that we had actually lived to see this! We actually DID this! We WITNESSED it! We finally got over this obstacle! We've got over ourselves and that old shit. We've finally grown up! Maybe, just maybe, we've moved on from that garbage. Maybe we finally turned the page. I had such hope. MAN-oh-MAN was I wrong! I've found it shameful and embarrassing, the terrible way he's been treated and disrespected. And yes, threatened. The Secret Service did report that threats against him increased by some 400% over the rate against the previous President. Infuriating!

And yeah, we WILL see how misogynous America is, if a woman is elected. I'd say bet on it. But it's something we have to do anyway, despite the misbehavior and idiocy that it will provoke. We have to break through those last barricades. So that EVERYBODY in America can see themselves in the Oval Office. Including all of our daughters.

[homegirl]

94. MISOGYNY LIVES!

I participate in a weekly political discussion group. The participants are predominately liberal (Northern California) as it becomes definite that HRC will be the candidate and the possibility of Elizabeth Warren as VP candidate I was shocked when several of the men expressed doubts that they would vote for Hillary. Also shocking to them is the thought of an all female Pres. and VP. No logical reasons just gut level rejection. When I asked if they had ever had the same reaction to two men as Pres and VP they had no explanation.

We still have too far to go in the USA.

[calimary]

112. No kidding, my friend.

Last edited Sat Jul 2, 2016, 01:23 AM - Edit history (1)

I think there will be serious ramifications to deal with, in attitudes, because of this particular election. The "he got beaten by a girl" meme will be hard to accept in some quarters. I suspect it'll be even harder to accept than "he got beaten by a black guy."

Brace for it. You think the changing reality force-fed to some communities by the fact of an honest-to-goodness African American President was an inconvenient truth? Just wait til there's a woman President. I fear this will trigger IMMENSE obstinacy, bitterness, and resentment, and probably a fair amount of acting out from the "that's not how it's SUPPOSED to be..." crowd. After all, "everybody knows" Presidents have always been white men. And isn't that the way things are "supposed to be"?

Sounds like the title of a limbaugh book. He actually wrote one entitled "The Way Things Ought To Be" back when he was first becoming a big radio star. I can't ever forget the caller I heard, while having the misfortune of having to listen to part of his show one day. The caller, whose voice sounded like he was a middle-aged white man, complained that this country started going off on the wrong track when women won the right to vote. Seriously. That attitude didn't die with the dinosaurs. There's a HUGE contingent out there that wants things back the way it's assumed things were in the 50's.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

142. seriously.

It will be uuuuuglyyyyy.

[Cosmocat]

104. We have seen that all this cycle

it's a major factor in Hillary's "unfavorables."

[jtuck004]

6. Willfull ignorance? I left high school in '71 with Democrats turning over black kid's school

buses, and those same people, and their kids, are running the country today. And this was in Deep Dust Bowl and Depression South, where they had Franklin's picture on the wall next to Jesus. Sometimes without Jesus. He was the most important savior, and they would be Democrats until they died.

Their kids were the ones turning over the school buses, teaching their hate.

You wrote > '"I didn't know how racist America was until it elected its first black President."

Well, maybe you are young. Otoh, I know a lot of people who have forgotten - it's a lot easier than taking responsibility. Not much has changed. Buses aren't turned over as much. Instead they just pass laws or enforce them differently so it puts black folk in prison in extraordinary numbers, compared to people who are white like they are. Then they pretend to be different.

It's more similar than I think people would like to remember.

[malaise]

59. Just the truth

[ErikJ]

7. I warned about that in 2008 primaries.

Which is why I was for Hillary. I knew that Obama would either lose the general, get nothing done in Congress or worse be assasinated. But of course nobody listened.
Surely enough assasination threats increased 400%. Congress blocked 90% of what he wanted ....but he did win.

[pnwmom]

9. But that wouldn't be a reason to vote against Obama. And he has achieved a lot,

despite everything. He got us through the worst recession since the Great Depression, and he got the ACA passed, among other things.

But he also picked up the giant rock that was hiding much of America's racism, and a lot of worms came crawling out.

[lovemydog]

15. Exactly.

Jackie Robinson faced a lot of it in being the first baseball player to break the 'color barrier.' That opened the door for integration in major league baseball. Once it's open there's no going back. More, more more.

[uponit7771]

11. According to FACT CHECK he's completed around 76% of his agenda... I think that's a lot

[Native]

25. 76% in the face of such incredible odds. That's more than a lot!

[ErikJ]

29. The GOP tripled the filibuster record his 1st term.

As of 2014 they had blocked 500 bills that Obama would have signed. They have blocked his SC nominee and federal judge nominees. The joke goes that Obama has to say hes against something so the GOP will pass it. Lots of variations on that joke too. THey agreed to block everything he was for the night of his inauguration in a secret meeting.

[Native]

37. And people have died because of their bullshit. I just don't see how elected officials can get away

with this kind of obstruction. Lives have been lost because of their bullshit, and yet they get away with it. Makes me sick.

[uponit7771]

88. +1

[heaven05]

120. truth

especially inauguration 2008

[unblock]

16. just wait until hillary is president. then we'll realize just how sexist they are as well.

as if we didn't already know....

[Native]

35. I don't think women will stand for it. If that does happens,

I hope we fight back like there's no tomorrow. I know I will!

[La Lioness Priyanka]

84. They would have obstructed Hillary too

And will probably impeach get if they can

[NewJeffCT]

106. agreed

And, for the past 8 years, we would have heard B---- or C--- for President Clinton instead of the N------ word for President Obama. We'd have gotten Hitlery-Care instead of Obamacare.

And, instead of Michelle Obama being criticized for encouraging people to eat healthier or what sorts of dresses she wears, we'd have gotten probably a more visible First Man in Bill Clinton and rumors of new affairs every time he's in the same room with another woman, and Hillary being criticized for her dresses and hairstyles.

[Cosmocat]

105. Eh

The same exact shit happened with BHO and republican jackasses as would have happened with Hillary, or frankly John Kerry or Howard Dean.

Yeah, they are a cozy home for racists, but they channeled race baiting primarily out of political expediency, because there was a black DEMOCRATIC POTUS.

But, had it been Hill, they would have done the same thing based on mysogony.

The other stuff is tertiary, the primary issue is the political affiliation.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

125. I learned that a lot of white people use that logic as an excuse NOT to vote for him. The real

reason, of course, was their own bigotry. I suspect the same is true of HRC. Internalized misogyny is at play, but other reasons are put forth as excuses for not supporting her.

I'm not accusing you of this at all, but I've heard the same logic applied. And when you pull back the layers, the bigotry was there.

[ProfessorGAC]

129. That's Ridiculous

First, he accomplished a great deal, so your prediction was off by quite a lot there.

Secondly, you did not know the Tea Party was going to bend the ear of the older, undereducated and take over Congress in 2010. Nobody did.

Your posts seems incredibly revisionist.

[treestar]

13. And that is sad considering that in November 2008

We had very high hopes that Obama being elected meant we were getting better.

[Person 2713]

14. News to white people I guess

[coco77]

28. Exactly...

[KT2000]

18. Same here

and I share the pessimism about white America. It has been shocking and tragic. This is not a great country.

[liberalmuse]

19. I wish I'd never seen this.

And I have the luxury of saying that, unlike a lot of Americans. I knew there was racism, but am ashamed to say I did not know it existed in such large numbers. It's sad and disgusting to watch. And now with Drumpf, all the most hideous dregs of humanity are out in the open and we will never be able to unsee this. I thought we were better than this, but we have such an excruciatingly long way to go before we're even mildly acceptable.

Maybe it's a good thing everything is out in the open. The rest of us "white folks" are now seeing the awful sh*t people of color have always seen and experienced.

[unblock]

20. speaking as a white american, i'm amazed it hasn't been worse.

sad to say, but there has been a racist element in this country since forever and while we have had major advances in legal and public acceptance, the racism has not been stamped out.

far from it, it has been steadily nurtured and legitimized by the southern strategy and every republican since, as well as foxpropaganda. the rise of the internet and 1,000 cable channels has given a forum for every sick voice out there that in the days of 3 tv channels wouldn't have found the time of day.

combine this with the demographic changes, these people feel that whites are losing their grip on power, and racists start to act like cornered beasts.

i can protest that i'm not one of them, i can whine that not all white people are like that, but in the end, i know that i can't do much to change their minds or shut them up, so my own voice is pretty irrelevant. i can call them out on it and tell them to knock it off, and all they learn is to stop telling racist jokes in front of me, as if i'm the one with the problem, not them.

i can't do much but cry and fear for the future.

honestly, though, this was inevitable. racists were never going to go quietly into the night. there was always going to be (at least) one last violent outburst, these people hold these horrid and irrational fears too dear to do otherwise.

in truth, the worst is yet to come, i suspect.

[pnwmom]

26. Maybe it was more obvious in some parts of the country than in others?

[unblock]

32. perhaps, but i think everyone's prone to not seeing the downside of a victory.

we certainly accomplished a great deal in the '60s, for instance, but we lost our solid democratic grip on power in doing so. the democratic party is much better now having largely purged itself of the bigots, but there was a price to pay for it.

similarly, electing a black president is a huge accomplishment, but there is a price to pay for it, and we will continue to pay for it for some time, one way or another.

in the long run, such things are well worth it, but it doesn't come free.

[raccoon]

102. Well said,

combine this with the demographic changes, these people feel that whites are losing their grip on power, and racists start to act like cornered beasts.

[heaven05]

124. +1

especially, last comment

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

127. If you're a black American, you KNOW that it's been there and has been worse. When one doesn't

experience the sting of racism, it's hard to know for sure. But ask those of us who do and you'll get a different response.

[tblue37]

21. I was not surprised about the racism, but K&R anyway, because racism has to becalled out. nt

[Night Watchman]

23. Same Here

Whenever Oprah Winfrey talked about us as a "racist society," I used to think it a little too harsh. Sure, I figured, the United States still has a lot of racism, but that's not a defining factor.

Then Obama got elected.

America is a FUCKING Racist Society!

[coco77]

31. Remember when Oprah and Gail

Took their road trip and they went to a town or a rest stop and a man said he wasn't serving no niggers and oprah said lets get out of here...

[King_Klonopin]

33. His presidency pulled back the curtain on a hidden, ugly part of America.

Too many people in our society are still acting out the Civil War.
Too many angry people are still being taught to blame a lesser scapegoat.
Too many ignorant, simple-minded, backwards-thinking people have a voice and are in charge.
Too much tribal mentality permeates our society.
Too many people espouse "freedom" who haven't got a friggin' clue about its true meaning.

The Civil War was never truly settled, once and for all. It became an underground war
and a festering wound, lasting 150 years and counting. Obama's Presidency exposed this
horrid purulence. Ask folks in Flint, MI or New Orleans, LA how they feel right now.

[sulphurdunn]

36. Could we stop with the sweeping generalizations

about "white America?" Obama's approval ratings have been pretty good throughout his presidency, even after 8 years of relentless rightwing media scapegoating and political obstruction. That doesn't happen without the support of a whole lot of white Americans, who, by the way, still comprise the overwhelming majority of voters in this country and that includes democrats.

[pnwmom]

39. Where was a sweeping generalization about "white America"? I didn't see one. n/t

[sulphurdunn]

44. How's this?

"A psychological shift is taking place among many blacks, and it can be heard in countless conversations over dinner tables, in barbershops and on social media. Some say they've never felt so much pessimism about white America, such hopelessness."

[pnwmom]

51. But that statement was about the perspective of black people. It didn't really

make any claims about "white America" -- except that many black people are starting to feel pessimistic and hopeless about the situation.

[sulphurdunn]

60. Pessemistic and hopless aboout what situation?

I assure you, there is no monolithic white American to be pessimistic or to feel hopeless about any more than there is a black one or any other kind.

[pnwmom]

62. About the reality of racism in America. n/t

[JustAnotherGen]

98. It's the truth though

The conversations we have at Sunday dinner - if race comes up - that's the general tenor of the discussion. You don't have to like it, but since you aren't there - you have to accept that conversations happen that you don't like and that the perception of many of us is cynical, pessimistic, and negative. Accept.

[sulphurdunn]

108. My point wasn't

about discussions of race over Sunday dinner. It was to note that conversations you describe are generalizations, and that while they may confer some emotional satisfaction, they are not otherwise useful and rarely if ever accurate. White people have the same kind of uninformed dinner conversation. My likes or dislikes have nothing to do with the observation. By the way, why would you assume I'm not there for Sunday dinner?

[JustAnotherGen]

109. You aren't at my house

That's a fact.

And it's not pulled out of our asses. We see what has gone on. We know there are direct threats to our existence. We also know that for all of these years people who have smiled in our faces have quietly plotted against us. Add in a Presidential Candidate (Trump) who speaks the language of the Hutu and of course we are smiling back right now. Of course we are.

It's about time the dominant culture in America stopped pissing on our backs then turn around and try to tell us it's raining.

And that's not a generalization either. So what if it "hurts". Tough.

[heaven05]

132. those conversations are

very accurate and are reflective of the larger problem of white racism in america. Deflecting and distracting won't make the truth less paletable because you have your observations. Racism is alive, well and growing again in america. I have to deal with this fact, which is not a generalization, so should you. Please pull your head from the sand.

[sulphurdunn]

149. Please stop putting words in my mouth,

and consider that insults are not rebuttals. Try reading my posts without bringing you personal biases to bear on them. The fact that institutional racism is alive an well was not the original topic of discussion. My position was in opposition to the orthodoxy that all white people are somehow racist for no other reason than they are white. I don't buy that scapegoat. It's too pat, and there is no evidence to support it. Therefore, whatever else it is, it is most likely untrue no matter how much one may wish it otherwise.

[heaven05]

157. riiggghhht, truth can be

a very hard pill to swallow. I have plenty of proof that white privilege leads to conscious and unconcious racism. I see in in my public sector dealings EVERYDAY. I talk about american white racism. All of your distracting and parsing will not take away from the reality of living as a POC in this society. My life experience of 68+ years in america is all I need to know that racism is institutional and systemic. If it was not the reality I could on some points agree with you. But as you explain things, I can't.

[heaven05]

130. Nothing sweeping, just truth

it's just that many won't let this dust be swept under the rug anymore. Get out the dustpan and throw the garbage where it belongs, in the dustbin of history.

[dhol82]

38. I know this is a thread about AA's

But, just have to say, I always get surprised when I hear anti-Jewish comments.
Always a wake-up call.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

40. It seems that the only people not surprised are black Americans.

[irisblue]

43. no, this middleaged white woman is not suprised.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

56. Yep.

[Enrique]

46. if you feel like challenging your assumptions

I would suggest reading this article.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

55. I don't. I'm a black American and yes, while many of us were happy that Obama won,

most black Americans were under no illusions about this racist-ass country.

[jaysunb]

73. +1 n/t

[cagefreesoylentgreen]

63. This Asian dude isn't surprised either

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

128. Thank you. :)

[irisblue]

42. ::oy ::

[Demobrat]

47. First it was acceptable to hate the black man in the white house

because it was about his policies, not his race. Then, slowly but surely, it became acceptable to hate all black people as extensions of Obama. Before Obama racism was in the closet. Now, not.

[struggle4progress]

48. There's never been any shortage of a-holes in the country

but right now it seems to me that our side is still gaining ground

[Stuart G]

49. k and r..nt

[kimbutgar]

50. I am so proud of President Obama

But like this woman I have been so upset the way they have demonized him. If he was white I don't know if there would have been that much venom but then I remember how they attacked Bill Clinton. So it was a double whammy for President Obama, black and democratic.

We will see a lot of hateful male chauvinist shit when Hillary gets elected.

[markj757]

52. That is one of the most sad but true statements that I've read recently about race in this country..

I'm black, and I grew up with diversity in my life. I went to a predominately white middle school and high school, served in the Air Force, and worked in white collar positions in corporate America. I have really only experienced one blatantly racist experience in my life when I was a teenager. All the other experiences have been subtle where you have to wonder was it racist or was I just being paranoid. So when Obama was elected, based on everything I experienced in my life, I was not surprised but extremely proud of the America I thought I knew all my life. Like most black people, I know racism exist in this country, but to see the level of hatred and personal verbal assaults, not only on his character, but on his humanity and love of country, and even his family; has forever changed my view about racism in this country, and about a huge segment of white America and what they claim to believe.

It is no secret that the black community has its fair share of problems, and although some of the problems we face today may stem from a legacy of institutionalized racism and injustice, the hard truth of the matter is.....today our problems are almost all completely self-inflicted. And for a huge segment of white America who are so quick to make that point, to see the vitriol and hatred towards a black man who is the epitome of the opportunity and greatness of this country, is disheartening to the core for me of what it means to be an American.

I still believe in my heart with everything that I am, that this is the greatest nation on earth, and I would lay down my life to protect her in a heartbeat. I still believe that even with our troubled history of slavery and racism, we have become the greatest protector of freedom and human dignity the world has ever known. But with the racist things I have seen, read, and heard over the past 8 years, it makes it so much harder to reconcile those beliefs, with the voices of hatred that helped propel Trump to become the Republican nominee for President. But what I try and hold onto, is the same thing that President Obama has expressed. "When they go low, I go high" For me that means, when they show the under belly of racism and hatred that is also part of who we are as a nation, I choose to focus on the millions of beacons of light throughout this country that speaks to our better angels. I choose to focus on my white friends, who have become my family. And I am comforted by the fact that while the people filled with all that race based hatred struggle to find peace in the darkness, I bask in the light!

[pnwmom]

61. Thanks for posting, markj757. I hope to be reading more from you here.

I'm just wondering, though -- in the light of the racism we've seen, both institutionalized and personal -- do you really think that the "problems are almost all completely self-inflicted"? For example, the drug laws that are so unevenly enforced, and hit black communities so much harder. I don't see that as a problem that is completely self-inflicted. Black people are held to a higher standard of perfection than white people, and the consequences are harsher when they don't meet it.

[markj757]

75. I think Obama is the brightest example of that double standard.......

Last edited Fri Jul 1, 2016, 11:42 AM - Edit history (2)

His accomplishments, his love of country, his ethics, and his stewardship of the Presidency has been trans-formative, as he said he would do when he ran for office. He gave us a list of things he wanted to achieve as President, and he has accomplished almost everything on that list. And the few things he could not accomplish, was mainly blocked by a Republican led congress that would rather see him fail, than see our country benefit from his successes.

As black people, we are often held to a higher standard versus our white counterparts, absolutely. Would his love of country and his faith be so easily questioned if he were not black, absolutely not. But Obama is also a shinning example of why our problems are almost all completely self-inflicted. Just because he has to work harder to achieve a similar level of success and recognition versus his white counterparts, he never once used that as an excuse when he failed. As a community, do we have obstacles in our path that other races do not, absolutely. But as a community, I am probably part of the first generation, where our fate is firmly in our hands. Our parents, grandparents, and ancestors sacrificed, and in some cases gave their lives, so the obstacles we face today, do not block us from living up to our God given potential.

So yes, I think our problems are almost all completely self-inflicted, because the fact that we may have to work harder, and overcome more challenges, is not an excuse for failure. We have to focus much more energy and resources on the 90% of the equation we can control, versus the 10% which we cannot due to things like subtle and overt racism, police brutality, uneven law enforcement, and institutionalized racism in our drug laws. Because the more we focus on the 90% we can change, the more impact we have on the 10% we can't control.

[a kennedy]

110. This just made me cry.....so beautifully written.....

[markj757]

118. Thank you....

Thank you for the wonderful compliment.

[ailsagirl]

153. Thank you, markj757 for your eloquent and candid words

I'm glad you're here on DU and, as another member said, I hope to hear more from you!!

[babylonsister]

54. My sentiments exactly.

I've been shocked at the reaction this good man engenders. Sadly eye-opening.

[Zambero]

57. Sad but true

This sentiment has always bubbled just underneath the surface, and is now visible for the world to see.

[Motley13]

58. I'm so proud of us

is what I said after Obama was elected. I thought racism was finally over, wrong

I admit I had a problem at first backing someone named Barack Obama. Hillary was 1st choice.

So glad I did, he will, I'm sure be at the top of the list of best presidents. Reasonable, fearless, brilliant, thoughtful, caring, all the good adjectives, love my prez.

I will add that I am an old white lady, born in Al but thankfully moved to FL very young

!Hail to the Chief!

[ailsagirl]

154. Ditto here everything you said, Motley13!!

Damn, I'm going to miss that man.

But I'm so grateful for the (nearly) eight years of having him as President!!

[ThoughtCriminal]

64. It was not a surprise to me

As a white, 58 year-old male who was raised in Alabama and lives in Arizona, what could I possible know?

Because when a middle-aged white male introduces himself to other white Americans and, when asked, tells them he's from Alabama, they think it's "safe" to tell him what they think. Oh, yeah, I know just how racist this country is.

[pnwmom]

65. Living near Seattle, fewer people feel comfortable expressing those opinions,

I think. So I was underestimating the amount of racism that was still out there.

One relative in CA has really surprised and disappointed me, with her tweets about President Obama. Not overtly racist, but I think racism is at the root.

[FlaGranny]

126. Twice recently

my husband and I have been approached by complete strangers who feel free to spew their nonsense - in both cases they were fellow veterans. Trump and other Republicans have made them feel safe to come out with their intolerant, racist selves. Every country has this undercurrent of self absorbed people who will follow any leader who makes them feel superior. They will do whatever it takes to "eliminate the competition." Everyone can think of examples of this. It is frightening and it is dangerous. It scares me that just because we have white skin they assume we agree with them. They believe they are the majority.

[ThoughtCriminal]

162. We don't have to wait until Clinton is elected to find out how sexist America is.

I think it has already become pretty obvious.

[Odin2005]

68. I had the same wake-up call.

Growing up as a white kid in the 90s it seemed to be that racism was just a problem involving close-minded old people and backward rednecks in the rural South. Then 2008 came and then all of a sudden a bunch of people who I had previously thought were decent, reasonable people suddenly started spewing the most horrible racist shit.

[awoke_in_2003]

70. Had I read that same headline 8 years ago

I'd have said "no way- look who we just elected". Then the crazies came flying out of the woodwork. It is very disgusting when the sitting president can't even get the senate to consider his SC nominees.

[craigmatic]

74. Part of the pessimism is Obama's own fault for not dealing with specifically black issues at all.

Black people got engaged, mobilized, and organized in 08 to help Obama but now some re talking about not voting at all. White racism- we're used to but prominent, powerful people who look like you but do little for you is something different.

[markj757]

76. I'm sorry to be so blunt, but that's an ignorant post.....

Obama has tackled issues that go to the heart of the struggles we face as a community, but much more importantly, the struggles we face as Americans. He wasn't elected to fix the problems in the black community, he was elected to lead and guide this nation out of very troubled times. And by almost every single measure, he excelled at his job.

[craigmatic]

89. He is the best president in my lifetime by regular standards but

name me one policy that he specifically made for blacks. He did the fair pay law for women, pushed the exec order for undocumented kids brought here through no fault of their own, and came out strongly for gays but he has done nothing for black people specifically.

[JustAnotherGen]

99. Frenchie Cat wrote this

http://www.democraticunderground.com/118738790

It's tacked at the top of the African American Group.

I blame folks who don't like black people - not the President. And I didn't vote for him because of what he could do for black people - but what he could shepherd for America.

Let me remind you the alternative was a worthless idiot who stated he wouldn't sit down with Zapatero without preconditions. Yeah - McCain said that because HE didn't know who the Prime Minister of Spain was. Obama would never say something so ignorant.

Unlearn. Black Americans consistently voted for white men for years even when black folks were also running. We don't have the hang ups your post indicates we do.

[Marcuse]

151. name me one policy that he specifically made for blacks.

Any such race specific policies from President Obama would have been blocked by Congress as being divisive reverse racism. Ironically, the reverse of racism is love. What the Republicans fear is called Karma.

[JustAnotherGen]

101. +100

[bhikkhu]

77. So true

I almost never heard any racist jokes or hatred against black people until Obama was elected; I thought naively we were all done with that (in spite of under-the-radar discrimination). Over the last 20 years there has been a steady rise in anti-hispanic sentiments, certainly, but I also hoped that would pass...its hard not to be disappointed in people general.

I recall 20 years ago seeing and appreciating "hate is not a family value" bumper stickers. I grew up on that tail end of the 60's; peace, love, tolerance and intelligence seemed to be the very welcome trajectory of general society. Sadly, all that seems to have gone out the window during in the bush years. My grandfather was the only person I heard racist remarks from (rarely) when I was younger, and I always thought it was an anomaly or an echo of harder times, as he was born just after the turn of the 20th century and lived through a lot. The past few years I've talked to a lot of older people, not much older than me, who make him seem quite mild and restrained. Its hard to stomach sometimes.

[snot]

78. The racist reactions to the Prez plus the attention (finally) to some of the

wrongful killings of blacks seem to me to be raising people's consciousnesses in a very helpful way. I've witnessed some extremely enlightening and conversations between blacks and whites during the last year. The problems are deep-rooted and complex, but I refuse to give up hope.

[3catwoman3]

79. John Fugelsang provided an interesting image on...

...Stephanie Miller's show earlier this week - the US is the old couch and Trump is the blacklight showing everything you would rather not know was there, embedded in the upholstery.

[rusty quoin]

80. That's good. He has the best way with words.

[3catwoman3]

159. And as an added bonus, he is...

...spectacularly easy on the eyes. Mrs. Fugelsang is a lucky woman.

[Scootaloo]

81. And I didn't know how racist a lot of people in my party were until he ran in the primaries

Same people, different day as it turns out.

[raven mad]

83. Can I be honest? Well, heck, we're on DU, so of course I can.

I really didn't notice his race. I know that sounds weird, but I was and am so respectful of his intelligence and his worldview and his ability to govern fairly, that during both campaigns, I really paid no attention.

Unless some fundy bigoted right wing asshole got in my face.

[MagickMuffin]

85. The racism even exists in the Democratic Party

I became a Precinct Chair because of candidate Obama. I went to training workshops. Learned how to make calls to my precinct voters. I had people saying they weren't going to vote for a N_____r! I was shocked and saddened to hear this coming from democrat's.

However, a lot of these people are a lot older than me and I suppose habits are hard to break. I felt extremely disheartened by what I experienced.

Still makes me furious that we haven't evolved as human beings when it comes to loving one another no matter the color of our skin or what "party" we belong to.

All you need is LOVE!!! Love is all you need!


Love, love, love
Love, love, love
Love, love, love

There's nothing you can do that can't be done
Nothing you can sing that can't be sung
Nothing you can say but you can learn how to play the game
It's easy

Nothing you can make that can't be made
No one you can save that can't be saved
Nothing you can do but you can learn how to be you in time
It's easy

All you need is love
All you need is love
All you need is love, love
Love is all you need

Love, love, love
Love, love, love
Love, love, love

All you need is love
All you need is love
All you need is love, love
Love is all you need

Nothing you can know that isn't known
Nothing you can see that isn't shown
Nowhere you can be that isn't where you're meant to be
It's easy

All you need is love
All you need is love
All you need is love, love
Love is all you need

All you need is love (All together, now!)
All you need is love (Everybody!)
All you need is love, love
Love is all you need
Love is all you need (Love is all you need)
Love is all you need (Love is all you need)
Love is all you need (Love is all you need)
Love is all you need (Love is all you need)
Love is all you need (Love is all you need)
Love is all you need (Love is all you need)
Love is all you need (Love is all you need)
Love is all you need (Love is all you need)
Love is all you need (Love is all you need)
Love is all you need (Love is all you need)
Love is all you need (Love is all you need)
Yee-hai! (Love is all you need)
Love is all you need (Love is all you need)

Yesterday (Love is all you need)
Love is all you need (Love is all you need)
Love is all you need (Love is all you need)
Love is all you need (Love is all you need)
Oh yeah! (Love is all you need)
She loves you, yeah yeah yeah (Love is all you need)
She loves you, yeah yeah yeah (Love is all you need)

[marble falls]

87. Me niether. I actually thought racism was starting to die out. Boy did I ever have it wrong.

[The Second Stone]

90. I knew the general population was racist, I knew George Will was racist

but I had no idea that virtually all Republican elites were as deeply racist as they turned out to be. When John McCain and Lindsay Graham are the least racist people in the Republican party, the nation is in real trouble.

[Albertoo]

92. The US has made remarkable progress on that count in 50 years

From segregation to a mixed race president (+ Colin Powell, Eric Holder, etc)
I'd say the evolution of the US on that count has been pretty impressive.
( even if, granted, it's still a work in progress)

Calling the US today a racist nation is probably not to know many countries.

[heaven05]

136. America is a racist nation

along with many other racist nations. Period. I have lived in them and know many people of color who have recently traveled to other countries.

[Albertoo]

155. That's your opinion. World studies say otherwise.

The US is among the least racist countries on earth (not saying there's no racism left)

A Washington Post map from the Inglehart word attitudes survey demonstrates it:


https://images.washingtonpost.com/?url=&w=1484&op=resize&opt=1&filter=antialias

[heaven05]

158. a survey can always

be found to back up ones opinion. But surveys are a dime a dozen can be and are skewed to create a reality fitting of ones world view. Have at it, lots of pretty colors though. I know racism, you don't. Tell all who have been murdered since say Michael Brown by white individuals about the pretty map....oohhh, you can't. Pretty simple I would say.

[Albertoo]

161. Individual examples do not make a rule. That's why we do studies

And the WP map I linke dyou to was just one of the many questions asked as part of that study.

Now, if you really believe the US is the most racist country on earth, just try living a while in India, Korea or Saudi Arabia.

[heaven05]

163. it seems my point is proven

by this post Brexit American election currenty engaged and it being, seemingly, between the racist isolationists in fear of losing racial privilege and entitlement to the brown people, muslims included and being agitated in that fear by a Trump campaign that is fully supported by racist individuals in an individual racist cause, RW hate radio, the RW internet and MSM and those who don't consciously claim that privilege and those who have never had it. I don't need any more example of just how racist america still is and is getting more each week.

[heaven05]

164. India, Korea and Saudi Arabia?

Racist toward whom? How about Amsterdam, Belgium, Germany, England, Poland?

[Albertoo]

165. Have you ever travelled to the countries mentioned in your life?

I don't think so.

If not you'd understand the difference in prevalent racism between
• Amsterdam, Belgium, Germany, England, Poland, on the one hand
• India, Korea and Saudi Arabia on the other

[heaven05]

166. I was born in Germany

and while not having traveled lately, I do have friends who travel frequently. You have your experience, I have mine, in america and elsewhere. I served in some places mentioned. I KNOW what cultures are racist also and which ones are lesser so.. You have nothing you can prove to me. Just can't. Good day.

[MrScorpio]

93. His election certainly brought a lot of the racism out in the open

But anti-black bias has always been with us.

[Hekate]

96. I knew damn well we were not "post-racial" but what the GOP vowed to do was sickening...

I'm referring, of course, to the Senators and House leaders who got together the day of Obama's inauguration and swore to oppose every single thing he tried to do. And did. I don't even have words for how low that was, and is.

As for the yahoos who came out from under various rocks and their talk-show enablers, I expected them to remain who they were, so that didn't much surprise me. But it surely has been disheartening.

Worse than watching the yahoos be themselves was the reaction here, where once we had an actual Democrat as POTUS it turned out he could no no right in the eyes of a whole bunch of DUers. That began before he was even sworn in. Yikes.

[Gabi Hayes]

97. how are these racist pricks any different from the murderous religious fanatics we suffer almost

daily, other than the fact that they're too CHICKen to blow themselves up like their like-thinking ideologues, who put the closeted bed sheet crowd's wildest fantasies into action?

[BumRushDaShow]

100. K&R

And this topic brings mixed reaction to me.

On the negative side, it underscored that we still have a long way to go to reach a "color blind" society -not in terms of forcing "cultural assimilation" by POC to non-POC cultural standards, but of accepting and even celebrating cultural differences between people who as humans, generally desire the same things.

However on the positive side, it also underscored how far we have come - where POC are now being elected to office - not just thanks to the previous "reliable" 20 - 25% of the white population, but by upwards of 30 - 40% for the first time in increasing instances, and THAT is significant, and was why Barack Obama was elected not once, but twice. I first noticed the phenomena with the election of Deval Patrick, who managed to garner that higher percentage of white votes to become Governor of Massachusetts - not by plurality due to 3rd party splitting (e.g., Doug Wilder as Governor of Virginia), but outright votes. This was a good indicator of what was to come with the Presidential election of 2008.

The main way to help shift the dynamic of cultural acceptance is "exposure". This country is so vast with tens of millions essentially isolated from others from other cultures (both rural and even urban), that any negative perceptions or stereotypes of those who are "other", only get reinforced, and passed on to the next generation.

I recently got chance to watch the animated film "Zootopia" and was amazed at the audacity of the creators to consciously attempt to tackle such a complex subject, and the entire film became a vast metaphoric exploration of modern society through personification, taking some oft-used stereotypes, and turning them on their head to make one think a bit.

[kentuck]

103. I was naive...

I thought it was a great step forward for our country. I was surprised at the degree of under-lying racism in our society. I cannot see another black president for a long, long time.

[ismnotwasm]

107. K&R

[packman]

113. America deserves a pat on its back for electing Obama

and I applaud his and Michelle's courage in office. Yes, his election and 8 years of abuse did something positive, IMHO - it exposed that ugly backside, that festering cancerous boil that is racism. It did give rise to Trump, just like squeezing a pimple brings the pussy head into the light AND now we can see in the full light all those that support him and speak for him. The rats and vermin can't hide in the shadows no longer. I am looking forward to the resounding response come November when America will cast many, many stones at this embodiment of racism and hate.

[JRLeft]

114. Really? It's been right there in the open forever. Even a lot liberals ate racist.

[hobbit709]

116. Then you haven't been paying attention.

[Cryptoad]

117. Seriously,,,,

I have always known that the GOP is the largest organized group of Bigots and Hate Mongers in the USA and the data supports that fact!

[heaven05]

119. +1

I did and wasn't surprised to see this shift in racial relations, for the the worse, although with the election of Barack Hussein Obama I was hoping for a paradigm shift. Yet with each new generation producing racial hate and suspicion, either in the homes or with the help of mass media, Fox News, hate radio and the Internet and now the Trump run for POTUS the most prominent tools of racial hate agitation today, I fear this country's citizens just are not strong enough, socially, to EVER turn ourseles to the more important aspects of life on this planet, with saving our planet from the damage our presence here is causing as a priority. No, we in this country, and it is not the only racist country, are forced to be suspicious and hateful of each other because of our sordid slavery and segregation past, enabled and justified by religion, Southen Baptist most guilty, among others.

The seed of racial hate was planted many generations ago and HAS blossomed into large grove of "bitter fruit" laden trees in many communities and 'burbs' across our nation. These groves are allowed to stand by the people who nurture them. These 'nurturers' are legion.

I just hope the legion represented by many here are strong enough to see those groves of trees hewn down and burned. I have no hope of this happening though, after seeing grandparents, parents and myself having to deal with the same ignorance, stupidity and just plain unreasoned hate as this new generation is experiencing now in the persona of Trump and his followers.

I've heard in my travels, "I will never be put into camps, made a slave again", even 7 year old children are afraid of being a slave I found out after talking with a teacher of at risk children. Sad indeed what this country has been forced to realize with the Presidency of Barack Hussein Obama.

[bonemachine]

133. I have a suspicion

that we will see a similar backlash, and we will learn just how sexist America is too! Won't that be fun :/

[libodem]

135. Yep

After the election the talking point was "post racial" world.

No more discrimination.

They went right after Affirmative Action, saying it wasn't needed anymore. In fact I heard really skewed logic saying it was reverse discrimination.

Meanwhile, Zimmerman.

[Rex]

137. Me either, I mean I live in south Texas and know there are racists all over the place.

However, some of the people I've known forever let their inner racist out. All because of a stupid fucking reason - Obama is black and they cannot stand that. I had to distance myself from a lot of people I would have never thought to be racist.

[Feeling the Bern]

139. This Jew with an immigrant wife isn't surprised either.

If you're surprised, you don't know America, Americans or have lived under a rock for about 400 years.