This cartoon was originally posted at Dollars & Sense, where my editor Chris Sturr writes:
Employment at the tippy-top is looking good for Black people in the United States, as Barack Obama ascends to the presidency and Roland Burris (finally) settles into Obama’s former U.S. Senate seat (net job increase: +1). The job picture for the rest of Black America? Not so good.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported a sharp decline in nonfarm payroll employment in December and an increase in the general unemployment rate from 6.8% to 7.2%. Meanwhile, the unemployment rate for Black men over the age of 20 rose from 12.1% to 13.4%. The official jobless rate for Black youth (ages 16 to 19) was even bleaker; it rose from 32.2% to 33.7% in the same period, while the unemployment rate for white youth increased from 18.4% to 18.7%.
Actually, it’s a pretty funny cartoon. I have no idea how many people actually think like this, though.
Personally? The election of Barak Obama is not the end of racism in America. There are plenty of individuals who still continue to believe that a given group of people have certain characteristics that are inherent because of their race that makes them inferior or superior to another race – on a negative basis, whether it be a lack of intelligence, a propensity to evil or crime, etc. And some of those people will have the power to impose negative consequences on another person because of that, whether it be because they are in charge of a government agency or a corporation, or whether it be simply that they have physical superiority in a dark alley.
But what it does mean is that the heart of America as a whole is not racist. I don’t know how many people voted for President Obama because of the concepts explored by that cartoon – or how many people voted for him because they saw an opportunity to set a black man over whites for once, or because he was the same race as they were. But did that win him the election? Would a white man in his place who had the same speaking capabilities, the same youthful appearance, the same governmental and academic background and who espoused the same ideals and ideas and proposals have won this election?
It’s my belief that he was elected because the majority of people thought (however rightly or wrongly) that he would be a better leader for America than Sen. McCain and the flotilla of minor candidates. And if America was racist at it’s core, I just don’t see that happening.
The concept that despite the existence of racism it is possible for a black person to hold any position in America has been proven out to be no longer a wish or a supposition or a fable to mask racism or an unattainable ideal. It is now simply a fact. It is an inspiration to those who previously thought that this was not true and that they could not overcome racism. It is an inspiration to all who believe that America will one day achieve the goals set forth in it’s ideals. Hopefully, it will be an inspiration for all Americans to put some personal effort in the work necessary to eliminate any person or any group of people ever having to put more effort into reaching their goals in life than someone else because of the effects of racism. We are not there yet. But I think last November we moved closer.
But what it does mean is that the heart of America as a whole is not racist.
Not necessarily. It just means that the “average American” whoever she* may be, is able to put aside her prejudices enough to vote for Obama under certain circumstances, like an oncoming depression and an opponent who is acting like a cross between George Bush and Herbert Hoover**.
Consider, for example, the anecdote from (IIRC) 538.com: Pollster knocks on door in central Pennsylvania, asks woman who answers the door who she plans to vote for.
She calls back to her husband, “Hey Husband’s Name, who are we voting for?”
Husband responds, “We’re voting for the n–”
Woman responds, “We’re voting for the n–”
Racist, but voting for Obama nonetheless. Is that the face of the average American? How should I know. But it is evidence, at least, that every Obama voter is not without overt racism.
*There are currently more women than men in the US so the “average American” is female. This is the only significance of the use of the female gender in the above sentence.
**Not to mention his running mate. Some didn’t vote for McCain because they thought that Palin was Bush or maybe Quayle with two X chromosomes and didn’t want her that close to the presidency. Others didn’t want her that close to the presidency because she is a woman. Which factor was more significant? Again, how should I know?
An anecdote? I’m not even sure it rises to that level. It’s a joke, and is evidence of nothing besides the fact that people find an incongruity stretched to impossibility humorous.
I would really like for the followers on this topic to check out my blog.