After giving a great speech on race in America in March, it seemed as if race was no longer a factor in this year's Presidential election. For those of us who thought that, we were sadly mistaken. Race will always be an issue in America and throughout the world no matter if it is seen or not. So with the genie out of the bottle, Obama has to be careful as November approaches about race. After clinching the Democratic Presidential nomination in June, Obama gave a speech at a fundraiser in Chicago where he said, he expects the Republican machine to bring up race and try to defame his race, which is why he needs all the money he can get to fight back against such attacks.
While now it is the time Obama was talking about and Obama knew it was coming but now the question is when will the real discussion about race take place as Obama had talked in March. While Obama's speech on race was great and profound as well as real talk, it has yet to make waves in the sense of really having an open all out discussion in regards to race in America. There are truly parts of America were race is an issue and that Obama has to be careful not to make his Presidential bid about race regardless of what attacks come his way. It is more easier than said but as Obama walks a tightrope on the issue, he must also make sure that an open discussion on race really begins. While Obama is not running for President of Black America, he is running for President for All America and race is an issue that affects all Americans. It is not a black and white problem but more so a color vs. white problem and color vs. color problem. That's why Obama cannot allow the Republican machine to bring race up as an issue.
Obama cannot allow himself to use race as an issue either and that's why what Obama must do and talk about race again but more so in an open discussion that involves a town hall meeting where an equal amount of all races are allowed to come and Obama listens as well as spearheads the discussion with topics that voters have had to deal with regarding race in America. While CNN has did a great job on dealing with Black America, it is not as simple as people think when it comes to race. Race in America has not ever been a black vs. white issue regardless of how we look at the 1960s and 1970s. It just so happens that blacks are were spotlighted or highlighted more because we fought for our rights with the cameras on and off. While other races didn't get the type of camera or media exposure that we as African Americans wanted, it is clear that race has been an issue for Chinese Americans, Native Americans, Hispanic Americans, and others just as bad.
So as Obama goes forward, race will continue to be an issue but no more speeches are needed but rather a full blown out discussion needs to be started and Obama can lead the cause but we as Americans can finish it. If only my white friends and black friends could sit down and here the heart aches and pains that each of us have had to go through than maybe we will gain a more profound understanding for each other's race but especially for each other as individuals. There are three things that are tough to discuss at the dinner table: race, religion and politics but race is more tough when the table encompasses many ethnicity's. That's why Obama has to be careful when dealing with race but it is clear that no matter how he addresses it, no more speeches are needed but a real discussion is the best solution for Obama and America to truly move even further than we moved since March.
References:
Race, Celebrity and the Presidential Campaign http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/01/AR2008080102071.html?hpid=opinionsbox1
Obama says McCain race card attack 'typical' http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/08/01/campaign.wrap/?iref=mpstoryview
Republicans Press Celebrity Attack on Obama http://www.usnews.com/articles/news/campaign-2008/2008/08/01/republicans-press-celebrity-attack-on-obama.html
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