If there’s anything I’ve learned in the past six years, it’s that the pronouncements about this being a postracial society due to the election of an African-American president were, at the very least, too optimistic. In fact, I have seen more evidence of rampant racism in the past six years than I have in the first 43 years of my life. It is, of course, not called racism. It’s couched in other terms. It’s called stand your ground, defense against voter fraud, and other things, but in my mind it all amounts to the same thing. It does seem to me that there are many people today who just can’t come to grips with the fact that the president is, good grief, a black man! Horror of horrors how did this ever happen? What’s even more insidious is that many don’t even realize what they feel is racism. I know several people who say they can’t stand the president, but when I ask them why, I am either met by deafening silence, or a noncommittal hodgepodge of talking points. They just know, deep down, that he doesn’t deserve to be president. But, oh no, racism has nothing to do with it. Unfortunately, the idea of the inferiority of African-Americans—and other nonwhite races, for that matter—seems to be very deeply ingrained, like it’s part of the DNA. People can’t tell you why, it’s just the way things are. The fact that prejudices die hard is more than proven by the fact that The Civil Rights Act and the Voting Rights Act were passed 50 years ago, and we are still arguing over both of them. In fact, there have been significant attempts to toll back many of the provisions of both laws—sadly, with the complicity of the Supreme Court. A plausible argument can be made that showing a valid ID is valid, but how exactly do such measures as cutting back on early voting days and deterring voter registration help anything? Those really do have at least the appearance of good old-fashioned voter suppression, Jim Crow style. And the beat goes on, and on. These prejudicial thought patterns will almost certainly be with us long after Barack Obama takes his place as just another name in the history books. No, this absolutely is not a postracial society. At the rate we’re going, I’m ashamed to say that it could very well never be one.
- Our Weekend Getaway - January 22, 2024
- So Long, Mom, And Thanks For All The Spaghetti - November 10, 2023
- Thoughts On The Chogaffirm Petition - June 3, 2023
- Rhonda - June 3, 2023
- Beyond Words Day 23 - April 4, 2023
- Beyond Words Day 21 - April 1, 2023
- State Of The Household - January 9, 2023
- Book Review and Miscellany Thoughts - November 18, 2022
- Initial Thoughts On My Writing - September 13, 2022
- Beyond Words Day 19 - September 11, 2022
