01-23-2008, 12:17 PM
Thats the thing. Obama's race seems to be in the blindspot or something that doesnt get debated properly out in the open.
Notice in the article a few things.
- the article explicitly talks about how hispanics wont vote for blacks but never talks about a significant amount of white population that wont vote for a black man.
- the article is from europe and talks about what the europe wants the 'modern america' to be -> a black america. i dont know how many european heads of state are minorities (let alone blacks) but still when it comes to doling out advice to other fellow whites the hope is for a black-america.
- the article talks about how older population and women dont like Obama but no mention whether Obama's race has anything to do with it.
- article mentions how Obama might be too early and then balances it with "or might be too late" and then spends an entire para trying to explain how he might be too late. Nothing on why he might be too early.
As a contrast consider Indian politics. In Guj elections people openly talk about the Patel factor. In UP elections people talk about Yadav factor and the brahmin-bahujan alliance. Almost as if there is nothing to be ashamed of but not so in white world it seems.
It might seem like something that maybe quite obvious to many - race as a factor that is. But what seems more interesting to me is race-as-a-factor-in-public-discourse. I cant really lay my finger on this but this whole issue in the blindspot is interesting. Something to keep an eye on while Democratic primaries progress.
Notice in the article a few things.
- the article explicitly talks about how hispanics wont vote for blacks but never talks about a significant amount of white population that wont vote for a black man.
- the article is from europe and talks about what the europe wants the 'modern america' to be -> a black america. i dont know how many european heads of state are minorities (let alone blacks) but still when it comes to doling out advice to other fellow whites the hope is for a black-america.
- the article talks about how older population and women dont like Obama but no mention whether Obama's race has anything to do with it.
- article mentions how Obama might be too early and then balances it with "or might be too late" and then spends an entire para trying to explain how he might be too late. Nothing on why he might be too early.
As a contrast consider Indian politics. In Guj elections people openly talk about the Patel factor. In UP elections people talk about Yadav factor and the brahmin-bahujan alliance. Almost as if there is nothing to be ashamed of but not so in white world it seems.
It might seem like something that maybe quite obvious to many - race as a factor that is. But what seems more interesting to me is race-as-a-factor-in-public-discourse. I cant really lay my finger on this but this whole issue in the blindspot is interesting. Something to keep an eye on while Democratic primaries progress.