I was sitting here at work when the mail arrived and on top of the large stack was the August 18, 2008 issue of New York Magazine. Of course I didn’t have time to even sneak a peak of the inside, but the cover, featured Democratic Presidential Candidate, Barack Obama, on a half black and a half white cover, clearly a play on race. Since I could not open my coworkers mail and get the inside scoop, I decided to try my luck via internet. When I noticed the topic of the articles in this issue, it became clear that race would be posed in various ways, as this weeks issue was all about the race (no pun intended). I was disgusted when I read story headlines like is Michelle(Obama) to angry, and is Barack to white? WTF???? I started thinking; I have yet to see Senator McCain on a race related cover. In addition, is this concept of race only highlighting the fact that it has and continues to be an ongoing issue in the United States? According to many Americans, race is not an issue; in fact many companies state that they encourage minorities to apply for jobs. So why is there a need to encourage minorities specifically, if not everyone? Finally, according to numerous census, and well just pure common sense the majority of the world is made up of these so called minorities, so why is it that the self-proclaimed majority does not get the short end of the stick?
It has been all to easy for some Americans to deny the fact that race is very much still an issue in the United States, of course those of privilege are the ones who are the majority of the blissful ignorant, however occasionally we come across the minority who is completely oblivious. Nevertheless, with this year’s presidential election race continues to be a major controversial topic. It is ironic in that the oppressed race has fought to gain equality and be allowed the same “American Dream” and goals that this country has offered to all of its European immigrants, but now that we are almost close (to perceived equality) with Barack Obama running for President, it is that ancient American concept of race, that still hunts the minds of Americans and the rest of the world.
I can speak from experience when I say that the rest of the world is definitely concerned with whom the United States will choose as their President for the next four years. America, the country built on slavery and immigration, still heavily relies on the rest of world to import and export goods. However, with the decreasing global economy, with respect to United States, many other countries are depending on their business with America to continue to provide economic growth in their homelands as well.
One of the main questions that I was asked through my travels from Italy, to France, to Germany was who I would vote for in this year’s upcoming election. All of the questions came from Obama supporters, who thought that America was due for change, and needed to end the wars. Being a black woman it did cross my mind that maybe they felt that I was for Obama because he looked like me, but when I scratched the surface it became clear that although they rooted for Obama for their own personal reasons, they all shared the unspoken consensus, that his race would be an issue in America.
So, as we have accepted the reality that a black man is running for president of his own country, it is also safe to say that Obama’s political presence in America brings forth any misconception that race is not an issue in today’s society. In my opinion this country will never be free of its internal/external battle with race, until the world accepts it’s African origins, the majority can accept the reality that they are indeed the minority, minorities can learn to co-exist positively as a union while simultaneous adhering to their individual traits, and finally when SKIN COLOR BUT CHARACTER, TALENT, AND MORALS are far more important.
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