I'm starting to become afraid that this thing will never get fixed. Dig George Packer in Kentucky talking to Hillary supporters. The guy is explaining to him why he won't vote for Obama:
“Race. I really don’t want an African-American as President. Race.”
What about race?
“I thought about it. I think he would put too many minorities in positions over the white race. That’s my opinion. After 1964, you saw what the South did.” He meant that it went Republican. “Now what caused that? Race. There’s a lot of white people that just wouldn’t vote for a colored person. Especially older people. They know what happened in the sixties. Under thirty—they don’t remember. I do. I was here.”
It's not so much that you don't know this sort of sentiment is out there, it's the sort of matter of fact way Packer reports and then lays it on Obama to fix. I've got great respect for Packer. Unlike any number of pinheads who sequester themselves in Washington think-tanks, to read second-hand reports and reach third-rate conclusions, Packer is the sort of dude who actually goes out and reports and then forms an opinion. I give him mad props for schlepping down to Kentucky to talk to folks.
But in his post he conflates white racism--which dude's objection clearly is--with Democrats' general problem of being perceived as effete latte-sippers. While one is related to the other, they aren't the same. Being seen an effete liberal is an image problem. But white racism is one of this country's most ancient traditions, and the longer I am alive the more I think that it's what will ultimately destroy us. Here is what disgusts me about Packer's post:
It’s a tall order. But Obama has a serious political problem. Until now, he and his supporters have either denied it or blamed it on his opponents. It’s not his fault, but it is his burden, and the way to begin lightening the load is to admit that it exists.
What these fools have never understood is that it's THEIR BURDEN TOO. At this very moment two of the three candidates for president are selling a fraudulent gas tax to the vaunted white working class. It's snake-oil and has been dismissed as such by everyone with a smidgen of economic credibility. Only one candidate has the respect for the intellect of voters to stand up and say "No." But for the great purity of the white race, for keeping his daughter clean as the driven-snow, this beef-head won't even consider a man with decency to level with him. Disgusting.
These dimwits never fucking get it. They had to loose more than a half-million of their own in order to see that slavery was a cancer, and most of them still didn't see it. Martin Luther King leaped in front of bullets in the hope of redeeming them, and they pissed a fit about giving him a holiday. Who actually gets upset about getting a day off? Food prices will be through the roof here. All our children will be baking from global warming. The Iraq War will be in its 30th year. But you know what? None of it will matter as long as the blacks can be kept in their place. When will they get it through their heads that this is their problem too? That we are tethered to each other until the end of this country's days? When will they understand that black America may go down first, but it won't go alone.
The Beautiful Struggle: A Father, Two Sons, and an Unlikely Road to Manhood 
I think you are coming to the realization that nobody can broker relations for an entire race. As soon as that becomes perfectly clear, then you'll recognize why it's not even desirable.
The first step towards this realization is this: America is at racial equilibrium. Everybody who wants to do anything with regard to changing what race relations means is, at this very moment, living that reality.
I think there are multiple realities in the United States. One is that there are racists in this country that will never, ever vote for a black man. And they know it and own that stance. They aren't ashamed and have no desire to change. They number in the hundreds of thousands, if not millions.
Another reality is that this is 2008. Millions of Americans are not only capable of understanding some sort of racial complexity, but have already been living it for awhile now. Either in their families or being exposed to it through mainstream media. Even the Republicans have contributed to complicating our notions of racial identity with Colin Powell and Condoleeza Rice as Secretaries of State.
Another reality is that our nation's hunger for serious, fundamental changes is POTENT right now. I do not believe it will be denied.
While a piece of that desire responds to the idea of electing a black President of the United States, an even larger piece of that desire is not just for a intelligent President, but a President who believes that we ourselves are intelligent and are capable of hearing complicated truths from him.
The reality of people who are married to their ignorance is not necessarily larger than the reality of people who crave political enlightenment.
Unless there's proof that inflexible racism is affecting over 49% of the whole country's voters, try not to get too discouraged.
breukelyne wrote, "The reality of people who are married to their ignorance is not necessarily larger than the reality of people who crave political enlightenment."
I really hope that's true. However, I also fear that many white folks are both ignorant and desirous of political enlightenment, and that the former within them usually overtakes the latter. Many white folks see great possibilities in Obama, but when they look at him, they also see their own projected fears, as George Packer's comments above demonstrate. Overcounting the actual number of minorities in public spaces is one symptom of such white fears.
Another is the white suspicion that a black politician will push "black issues" to the detriment of white interests. That's why the words of Reverend Wright contaminate Obama, while the equally outrageous words of Pastor Hagee don't contaminate McCain--whites unconsciously see other whites as individuals, but they see black people as members of a group with similar (and anti-white) interests.
I'm trying to untrain my fellow white folks out of these habits, but yeah, like George Bush used to say, "It's hard work! Hard work."
A Fighting Whitie,
Macon D
"whites unconsciously see other whites as individuals, but they see black people as members of a group with similar (and anti-white) interests."
Macon D, this is the problem I see as well. As a black man, when I talk about race with white people, we are in 2 different planets. Many white people think racism is about hating blacks, and they think to themselves, I dont hate black people. Well you dont have to, you just have to think of black people as some group with different interests than yours, conflicting interests.
This is the power of racism, it makes you operate against your self interest. People need to grasp that today's poor kid who is robbed of oppurtunity, could very well be tommorows criminal robbing you or your prosperity. The truth is simple: When everyone does better, everyone does better.
Helping people is in your self-interest.
So, are all black people these amazingly tolerant human beings? Really? That hasn't been my expereince growing up in New York City. I think white people for one are sick of being lumped together as "white people" which is extremely ignorant to do so in itself. Dam, most of us are just trying to go about our business and take care of our families. What is it exactly that you want from me? Whether you want to admit it or not the opportunity is there. MAy it be more difficult for some than others, sure? But what shall I do about it? I can't force young black men to get married and work and work hard in roder to make it better for the next generation. The home is sacred, and nobody can change the fact that 70% of black children are born out of wedlock. LOL, how can you even discuss racism until that abopslutely devastating statistic is addressed? SHit man, people have faced adversity all over the world. But part of being a man is taking resonsibility for your own actions and not blaming other people for your failures in life, despite the challenges that you may face. Black leadership is bredding a culture of victims before they are even old enough to think for themsleves. How do these kids even have a shot when they are brain washed froma young age to beleive that they are not resopnsible for their own actions? Yes, white American have their part to do, but what about Black Americans and what they can do to help themsleves.
Uhm...not sure where I lumped "white people" together. The post very specifically addresses white racism. Illigetimate births in the black community is certainly a problem--but one doesn't excuse the other. And that goes both ways. Birthrate isn't the reason that dude in Kentucky won't vote for Barack. It's because he's black--and he said as much. This post is very specific about what it's addressing. I'm don't understand the either/or-ness of your response. Just because your pissed about white racism, doesn't mean you think everything happening your hood is OK. And just because a minority of black folks aren't doing the right thing, doesn't excuse white racism.
You didn't see me ask for a single thing in this post--except some legit consideration for Barack Obama. What you're failing to understand is that it isn't your "part to do", anymore than taking care of the future of your children is your "part to do." You do it because you care, because it's in your interest. Seriously, don't do me any favors, dog. Take a look at this blog. I'm not one of these begging/whining/Al Sharpton/shuffling/marching /dancing Negroes. If folks think this country is going along fine then, by all means, judge Barack on his skin color. That's always done wonders for the world.