It is pretty appropriate that on the 50th anniversary of President. Johnson signing the civil rights act that I raise the topic of race relations and President Barack Obama. Many people of goodwill of all races have accomplished what, quite frankly, many of us could not happen in our lifetimes. The election of Barack Hussein Obama as the 43rd president of the United States was a triumphant and glorious moment in our continuing struggle to address and correct the past and continuing impact of racism on our society. Although many of our white brothers and sisters would not admit to it, social and institutional racism is an existential, clear, and present danger to our nation. Ignorance and denial will not be a defense for those who continue to support and prop up institutional racism that tears at the thread of every principle that the United States purports to hold dearly. Although some of you would like to believe that repeating the mantra expounding freedom and uninformed references to the Constitution somehow absolve you of responsibility for propping up racist institutions and cultural norms, the truth is that you are engaged in a delusional and self-destructive pursuit. America needs an intervention.
As a nation, our treatment of President Obama during the first six years of his presidency has clearly shown how collectively delusional we are as a nation. A proclamation of our country accomplishing a state of post-racial bliss has always been bogus from its first utterance. The most benign interpretation of this belief would be hopeful and wishful thinking. Still, the more realistic and, some might say, the more cynical interpretation would be that this was an opportunity for those that feel uncomfortable dealing with issues concerning race and diversity to proclaim that “from this point on we are colorblind society” that affords everyone the opportunity to succeed equally and I can comfortably tell anyone from this point on that if they want to discuss anything about the damage and burden that racism infests upon our society they could end that conversation by telling that person that he was playing the race card. These are simple defenses for simple minds. Truth be told, the election of Pres. Obama has resulted in precisely the opposite of a Kumbaya moment. In many ways, it has forced proponents of racial inequality to expose themselves. This exposure is not limited to any fringe element. This exposure most prominently applies to our current Republican members of Congress.
The current cabal of Republicans has never deluded themselves with notions of a post-racial America. They have made a concerted effort to reach out to those in American society that could not stomach the idea of a black man leading the United States of America. They have reached out and stoked the burning embers of racism in fear in the pockets of our country that are still susceptible to race-baiting and hatemongering. Hence you have the Tea Party, which miraculously appeared once the black President placed his hand on Lincoln’s Bible and was sworn in. The Republican Party and their little gremlins, the Tea Party, can raise their voices to the high heavens. Still, they have convinced me that their goal is to eliminate what they see as a blemish on the distinguished history of all of the “fine upstanding” men elected as President before Barack Obama. Metaphorically, they would ensure that Barack Obama would not drink from the same water fountain of power, prestige, and respect as his predecessors. “Get to the back of the bus,” they all shout as they become more frustrated by his ability to overcome their obstruction. He is accomplishing things that would be impressive under the most idyllic situations, let alone under conditions where the other party has taken blood oaths to do everything in their power to bring about your demise.
Racism continues to be America’s poorly hidden dirty little secret that will fester like cancer regardless of how much we try to ignore or wish it away. Like so many other cancers, if unattended, it will result in our demise.
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