Thursday, November 6, 2008
Race and the Election
Given Barack Obama's election to the Presidency, race remains an important issue in our country. Do you believe that this election changed the issue of race? Why or why not? Write at least three paragraphs explaining your answer and you may use sources if you feel necessary. Please cite them if you do.
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26 comments:
I think that the election has changed the way people view the issue of race. When Obama won, it showed that the white race is not always superior.
For awhile, many racists people thought that an African American could not do a job as well as whites. However, they just never had the complete chance to prove themselves.
Obama can give the racists people a different view of African Americans, that they are as capable as any other person.
--Tang Xiong ^-^ V
For many people, November 4 2008, marked an important date in the United States history. Tuesday night the first African American was elected to presidency. Many people considered this day a day in which African Americans could show that they really are equal.
Throughout American History, African Americans have had a long and rough struggle to becoming equal. Thanks to the many people that have advocated African American rights such as W.E.B De Bois and Martin Luther King, today African Americans are considered equal.
However, The African American race came to a new level Tuesday. This was a great accomplishment for them. The first African American was elected to office. However, I believe that the election did not change the issue on race. Many people, no matter Barack Obama being president, are still going to be racist or are still going to consider the African American race inferior. Many people didn’t think that an African American could be capable of doing a big job such as being president. Well, 2009 will change that. Obama will now have the opportunity to chow that African Americans can do equally or better at being president.
-Cindy Flores
Given Barack Obama's election as the next president of the United States, i believe that race will still remain an issue in our country. Race will remain an issue regardless of who is elected president because people will always be racist. However,the election of Barack Obama has made history. It has changed the issue, but not fixed it.
Although many believe that people voted for Obama based on his race, i disagree. I believe majority of people who voted for Obama either agreed with his policies, or were anti-Bush and wanted change. This election had less to do with his skin tone, and more to do with people supporting what he stands for.
Yes, it is a progressive thing that for the first time the president is not "white", but it must not overlook who Obama is, and what he plans to do as president. The country needs to be more concerned with what he is going to do with his power.
-Ashley!-
Many people consider Tuesday night to be the most important night in American History. Some people consider it as an event that allowed African Americans to reach an even higher level of equality. However, the election of a multi-racial president may cause more interracial violence.
Since the post-Civil War era, African Americans have struggled with reaching equality to the white Americans. The election of Barack Obama serves some justice for the black politicians who were elected to government office, then had their positions ripped away with the enactment of black codes. It is truly a great step on the road to change of America.
Yet, by listening to the conservative media, as well as conversations with old school conservative republicans, it is obvious that many previously “closeted racist” have made their unhappiness with the new presidential choice public. Barack Obama was elected with the majority of the electoral vote, as well as the popular vote. The people that didn’t vote for Obama, in most cases, were very against him. It only takes a few people full of hatred to open the wounds of racism in the country. Many people even talk about how he might get shot while in office, and I’m sure there are quite a few people up for the job.
On the surface, and to outsiders, it may appear that Americans have made large strides to overcome the history of slavery. However, there is enough racial hate brewing in some areas of the country to completely counteract the progress.
--Emerson--->
The election of 2008 will be marked in history! This election and Barack Obama’s elect to presidency is a phenomenal feat for America. I think that the issue of race is magnified by Barack Obama being elected president because now everybody thinks it is just because of race. You constantly hear comments like, “Barack Obama only won because he was black” or “All the black people voted for Barack Obama because they wanted a black president”. WRONG! Barack Obama is no blacker than any other white person.
The election of 2008 just magnified the ignorance of Americans and made the race issue worse. Barack Obama is mixed, his mother is white and his father is Kenyan, but he was raised by his mother. Many people think that just because he has brown skin he won. The election should not have been about race anyways, it was about change. Barack Obama won because of what he stood for and the change that Americans were seeking, they clearly found in him.
I believe that the issue of race was affected by the election but the definite effect it had depends on the person. Many older black and white people stated that they were happy to have lived to see the day that America had a black president. They lived through the Civil Rights Movement and it’s a great thing to see a person who 40-60 years ago would be discriminated against or forced to sit in the back of the bus be elected as president! Hopefully this will fully open people’s eyes and make the world a more united and better place. Regardless of what color he is, on January 20, 2009 Barack Obama will be your president and mine.
--Sharlese Hall
race in the 2008 election was a VERY important. the very fact that there has never been a black presedent before. plus the bush admisistration extremely downplayed an ALOT of places. change is promoted and the biggest change that we can have is a black president.
many poeple i kno and that are old enough to vote are voting for obama simply because he is black. they did not pay attention to his ideals.
this logic is rediculous. most of the american population voted for obama because he is different.
smorris O___o
This year's presidential election has opened many doors when it comes to race relations in the United States. Because Barack Obama is the first multi-racial president, America has a new perspective on race and will be forced to unite under a common cause.
Since the days of slavery in the United States, African Americans have struggled to gain equality in society. Although great improvements have been made, many people still discriminate against blacks. I believe this election has taken another great step in improving relations and gaining equality for everyone.
The president of the United States is often considered the most influential figure in the country. Since Obama is our future president, even his opposers will be forced to accept the fact that our country is changing. We have become more tolerant of other races and other cultures, and will continue to do so in the future.
In Obama's Race Speech, he says, "I chose to run for the presidency at this moment in history because I believe deeply that we cannot solve the challenges of our time unless we solve them together - unless we perfect our union by understanding that we may have different stories, but we hold common hopes." His dream of uniting people of all races in the United States will affect his actions as President. Hopefully, these actions will bring Americans closer together and improve relations between races.
Less than two hundred years ago, many African Americans were enslaved. Today, we have a multi-racial president. The fact that we have made such a transition shows great improvement. In the future, we have no choice but to continue moving towards racial equality because of the election of Barack Obama.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/03/18/obama-race-speech-read-t_n_92077.html
-- E. Styers!
On Tuesday night many people thought that it was the most important night of American History. And then some people the thought that this night allowed African Americans to have a lot of freedom. And then a few people thought that this was the event that the whole world will change because of the chance of a black president. So yes race was a big deal that night. It also showed on Tuesday how people are still racist and don’t want change.
Most people think that voters voted for Obama because he was black. I disagree with that because some people actually voted for him because his policies and other political things. It also bothers me when they say that Obama is African American. It dislike it because Obama is not black he is multi-racial because his mother is white and his father is black.
I believe after this election Obama will show the racists different views and ideas of black people and their society. And maybe this will be a good change to the whole world.
-Asia-
I do not believe that the election changed the issue of race in this country. If the people of America had never seen the faces of either of the candidates and only heard them speak then they would follow the candidate who represented their beliefs better. But because America saw a black face majority automatically assumed he was a black man and that he would be supported by all black voters.
Race is, and has been, an issue in our country for some time. One election isn’t going to shift the whole outlook on racism. America is such a diverse country so there may always be an issue, big or small, of race. Obama was qualified rather he had been black or white. The ignorant few in this country may have voted for him because his skin is brown but he is still a qualified leader. In the future some things with race may be made simpler but the issues will always stand.
To think that one event in history could change the minds of so many is great. But in reality everyone knows that it took more than Dr. King being shot and Rosa Parks being arrested to change the issue of race.
(S.Thomas)
So i took a pool and it came across to me that 98% of the student body population strongly believes that Obama will get assassinated. Why? why do people automatically think so pessimistically. If we dont think positive change isn't going to come in the form we have been waiting for. "im asking you to believe. Not just in my ability to bring about real change in Washington... I'm asking you to believe in yours" We have to believe that this election will bring change. If we dont think right then, no racism will not leave, not if we dont want it to.
-Erin G.
November 4, 2008 marked a important date for the United States. Barack Obama had became the first "African-American" President the United States has ever had. The outcome of the election, showed that although Americans are still ignorant the majority of them, voted him in for his Presidency.
I believe the race issue is still a problem in the United States, because so many people are judgemental without knowing actual facts of the person. The older people, in more detail, are the ones who were brought up during the Civil rights movements and therefore, their beliefs on race stay the same as they did sixty years ago.
However, I think the issue on race, could persuade some peoples minds that race, isn't a factor for being President.I think in time, Obama will show people, black, white, yellow, red, that America still has to face other, bigger issues then ethnicity. What people should realize is that we need to come together, as one to progress in America, rather then slack behind, just because we have an African American President.
ashley bayse. :)
I believe that this election has changed the issue of race. It showed that African Americans are equal to everyone else. Although it ultimately changed the issue, it still isn’t completely fixed.
People will be racist and discrimatory towards those of a different race. But by Obama being elected president, it opens new doors. There has been speculation that only black people voted for Obama as he is black. But people tend to forget or ignore the fact that he is mixed. Race has always been an issue in America from the beginning. During the Civil War Era, slavery was a BIG issue. Then after the Civil War, African Americans had to struggle just to get to where they are today. Just to be able to vote, blacks had to be literate and pay a tax. While they were able to vote, hold office, and attend school, they weren’t able to have interracial marriages or own guns.
Today, they have the exact same opportunities as everybody else. So, the election of Obama brought about a new way of viewing the effect race has own a person and the positions they can hold. The issue of race has come a long way, but is still not completely over.
I believe that the important issue of race has changed since November 4th. When Barack Obama had become President-elect, that spark a whole new ear for African Americans.
I believe that it will change the view of employers on blacks and show that the white race is not as superior as most people believe. Blacks, I believe, will get more jobs for high-paying wages and recieve notice of this. I believe that this will also change the stance on the presidency forever and you can expect more African American presidents to come.
Barack Obama set forth a precident for all African Americans. Coming from a household with a single mother and attending a pretty run-down high school, Barack Obama shares views with most people in urban areas like New York. It inspires people to strive for more and continue to work for continuous African American rights.
Some comments:
1) How is the issue of race continued in this country?
2) How does this Presidential election change YOUR PERCEPTION of race?
3) Look at your other students comments and react to one of them.
Mr. Clodfelter
I believe that this election has changed the issue of race. It showed that African Americans are equal to everyone else. Although it ultimately changed the issue, it still isn’t completely fixed.
People will be racist and discrimatory towards those of a different race. But by Obama being elected president, it opens new doors. There has been speculation that only black people voted for Obama as he is black. But people tend to forget or ignore the fact that he is mixed. Race has always been an issue in America from the beginning. During the Civil War Era, slavery was a BIG issue. Then after the Civil War, African Americans had to struggle just to get to where they are today. Just to be able to vote, blacks had to be literate and pay a tax. While they were able to vote, hold office, and attend school, they weren’t able to have interracial marriages or own guns.
Today, they have the exact same opportunities as everybody else. So, the election of Obama brought about a new way of viewing the effect race has own a person and the positions they can hold. The issue of race has come a long way, but is still not completely over.
~W.Horne~
For many decades, the issue of racial equality has been a popular topic in society. However, on November 4, 2008, the issue of race was momentarily set aside and as a result we have a man of dark complexion in waiting to take his position as President. I believe that the issue of race has progressed to a certain extent even though President Barack Obama’s was elected. During the nineteenth century, blacks were perceived only as slaves not as a potential president candidate. However, today blacks are more politically and socially accepted towards other races.
Even though, President Barack Obama was elected by a majority of United States citizens, the issue of race will still be brought up. During Obama’s campaign to be President, there were a few people that weren’t happy with his attempts to become President as result drew up plots to assassinate him. Therefore, I believe that the issue of race has progressed to a certain extent. Now that Obama has been elected, I believe that there are going to be a couple more attempts to attack Obama in the next year or two. The issue of race will always be present because there are people today that believe only whites belong in office. As a result, they will rebel against the changing of our government.
Also the issue of race has continued in our country because there is talk that President Obama will be assassinated. Even though there is a possibility, I believe the attempts won’t be successful when attempting to assassinate Obama. The body guards of President Obama know that he is a black man that there will be people who will attempt to kill and as a result will be more prepared. The election of 2008 has changed my perception of race by knowing that there are people in the world today that accept black as political figures. Lastly, the comment made by Susan Morris on the issue that blacks only voted for Barack Obama is not entirely true. Being a black person myself, we not only voted for Barack Obama because he was black but because we felt that it was time for an African American to be president ,and that he could relate to the struggles that we face as being African Americans.
T. Hearst ™
i believe that the elections have opened everyones eyes, and hopefully have came to the realization that everyone is the same, they may be a different color but if they have good values, and believe they can make a change then thats good. I believe that many people voted for Obama just because the fact that he is multi-racial, and didnt look at the actual facts and see what changes he is going to make. I believe that Obama will make a difference in our nation because he did have some great values and morals, and the fact that he is multi-racial to me makes things better.
I believe that the elections have changed peoples insight on the issue of race, because it shows everyone that anyone can do anything as long as they put their mind to it. I believe that we will still have issues on the race thing because thats never going to change your still going to have your racist people but Obama has made a great change for the good in our society today.
Obama has just opened the doors for greater newer things, people are always going to have their opinions on being racist but maybe in the end he could change a lot of peoples minds about "race."
--d.fivecoat
This year’s presidential election is a great time for the African American people, but the election has caused a lot of controversy. Many think and feel that this election was based solely on race, when in reality; it shouldn’t have been looked upon in that way. I do believe that this election has changed the issue of race, due to the fact that our upcoming president is not white.
Even though blacks and whites are equal at this point in time, and have been for a long time, this is a huge landmark or accomplishment for the African American people. This is important because now, in America we as a nation should feel truly united and equal, even though it may not appear that way. Before this election, many people still looked upon the whites as being more superior to blacks. However, this outlook has changed dramatically in the past few days.
This election has not changed my perception of race. This is because I believe that everyone is equal and should get the same opportunities as everyone else, no matter what your skin color is. The fact that we have come this far as a nation is a huge improvement in continuing towards racial equality.
-V. Gobble
The issue of race hasn't changed too much due to the election. One reason is that it may cause more interracial problems. With the election of Obama, many radical anti-black Americans are going to speak out against him. The worst that could happen due to this is that someone attempts to assasinate Obama due to his skin color.
A second reason is that just because Obama is black, it doesn't mean he is going to push for fairness for color. Obama will have other conflicts to deal with besides color. Right now in America, race isn't the biggest problem. While some think so, Obama may see differently.
--Ralph Woods--
For decades African-Americans have fought for equality. And many people considered Tuesday night to be a night when African-Americans could finally reach equivalence in not only the work force, or society in itself, but in politics. However, Barack Obama’s election to the Presidency, in my opinion, has not changed much of anything when it comes to the issue of race.
I do believe that Obama’s election is a great achievement and will go down in history as a very significant moment for the United States. However, I do not believe that just because Barack Obama is going to be our next president that the racists in America or the discrimination will disappear. I do not know exactly how the race issue will continue in our country, but I just believe it will.
This election does not change my view of race. Race to me is just the color of a person’s sick. It’s not important, you can be white and be crazy, you could be any other race and be crazy. The color of a person’s skin does not depict a person is personality or what good/bad they are capable of doing.
-L. Gonzalez
The 2008 presidential elections were a very controversial but major issue. November 4th, 2008 will go down in history forever because on this day we had our first African American President elected to office.
Although this day is a very happy day for millions of people across the country, this could very well be the beginning of many new racial issues.
The election of our first African American President goes to show that our country has made progress and that racial equality has been made. Change is what we need, and I think no bigger change can be made than for our 44th president to be an African American. It goes to show that after all the struggles African Americans have gone through, finally comes the day when we can all proudly say, America doesn’t care for the color of the skin. Our President is African American. Less than 200 years ago, African Americans didn’t even have the right to vote. Brought into the country as slaves and thought of as property and now we have a President that can show the world it doesn’t matter what color your skin is. You can be black, white, yellow, brown, whatever, we should all learn to stop judging others by the color of their skin and their ethnic backgrounds.
Along with that, Tuesday night’s election also goes to show how people are still very narrow minded, I personally have heard and seen people say things such as “Oh let’s see what good he’ll do for our country before her gets assassinated.” I think this is so retarded, people think that because he’s different he won’t prove himself worthy of the presidency.
I really hope that people can really start looking beyond skin color, by now they should learn to accept that America is equal and united of all races, and ethnic backgrounds.
-uroosa naveen haider
color of a persons skin*
-Li.Gonzalez
Yes I do believe the recent election has changed the issue of race in America. Obama is first off, the first black president we have ever had.
If enough people are willing to look past skin color and vote for the person for their veiws, then apperently we have overcome some form of a race issue.
Of course some people still have a problem with the issue of race and Obama being a black man in the white house, but for the majority of Americans he is just a man.
-J. Baranowski >:0
I believe that the issue of race has changed since the 2008 election. When Barack Obama was elected president, the minds of African-Americans had been changed.
The change of a black president into the White House, I believe, will change the minds of some people to make them think that the superiority of whites has dropped. As an effect of this election I think that blacks will begin to get better jobs and do think that there will be more African-American presidents to come.
Barack Obama has been somewhat a hero to most African-Americans. He came from a run-down house with a single mother, just like many (not to sound racist) African-Americans from, for example rural New York, do. He opened these peoples eyes for them to see that they can overcome these standards and be in power.
-Sam Everhart-
To me, the issue of race has slightly been changed since Obama has been elected to be our next president. With Barack being elected, many African Americans will see that the greatest of ordeals can be acquired no matter what skin color you are. With this mind-set, many minorities will strive to have better jobs.
Thanks to Barack Obama, monorities of all kinds have a new sense of hope in becoming better economically and socially. Thanks to Barack Obama, the race issue has began to change.
--ralph woods--
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