A Post Racial America?

Its been all of 2 days since President Elect Obama won the election, an action that was supposed to be the start of a new era in race relations in America. If this is true, why is it all that I hear is: “Well…its just a beginning…it doesn’t make up for it all. RACISM is NOT over!” I have listened to various talk shows over the past couple of days now, and I either hear the previous sentiment, or I hear a smug rub-it-in-the-white-mans-face attitude. Isn’t this exactly the opposite of what President Elect Obama’s message was, one of unity and progressiveness?

Let me explain where I am personally at this time. McCain was my lesser of two evils candidate. I had hoped for a stronger Conservative candidate, but what I got was McCain. I opposed President Elect Obama due to his politics, not his skin color. I truly believe that at least 80% of the voters who opposed him did so for the same reason. I am now saddened to see the post election attitudes of many black people. I am hearing VERY little love and unity. I am hearing a lot of smugness, and vindictiveness. Perhaps that will change after things have settled down.

Patrice Oneal on John Gibson’s show was especially typified this attitude, “…even the white people that voted for him (Obama)…you don’t get to just be exonerated for your …covertness..and your dishonesty…about racism.” In other words, even you white Obama voters are racist and you don’t even know it.

Talk about bitter-clingers. A lot of black folks seem to be bitterly clinging to their feelings of racist oppression even into the new post-racial world. As I was typing this blog entry, a friend of mine sent me this link. There’s some nice post-racial sentiment there.

Let me tell you something, my dark skinned brothers and sisters: I love you. Always have. If anyone is feeling unloved in the post-racial era we are stepping into, its me. But its cool, I’ll endure. I’ll overcome. Give him a few years and I think we will all see he is just as likely to botch a thing or two as W. was, or President Clinton.

For the record, I opposed Senator Obama on a basis of politics, not race. His views are not mine.

Hope…Change…well, sometime in the future I guess. Let me know when its here.

Zap