I've already said a few things about what Obama's victory means for race relations in the United States. I don't want to go over the top with this, but I found this article that John McWhorter wrote last summer. McWhorter is black and conservative and frames the importance of an Obama presidency in very succinct terms. Read the article.
"Obamakids" by John McWhorter
What stands out for me, and what has always stood out for me, is the importance of seeing someone other than a white man in this symbolic position of power. It matters that a black or brown or female American can be a CEO or some sort of mega-popular Hollywood god or goddess. But it matters more that such a person can sit in the symbolic seat of the most powerful person in the country.
What McWhorter says about ten year olds living their entire formative years with this man as president is truly worth pondering. There is no way anybody can begin to measure how that might shake up the way people of different groups interact or see themselves. I'm quite looking forward to watching this play itself out.
Just some food for thought.
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In regards to the article titled ‘Obamakids’ I just want to say I agree with the overall theme of this article. I do think in years from now race and racism will have a totally different meaning to many people regardless of their race. I agree in conjunction with what McWhorter was saying in regards to the way younger people will process race and process the idea of a black man in the white house. I think it will be interesting to see how this will all pan out. I think that more young people will come to accept that anyone can become president however I do not think that it will automatically be easier for black people to suddenly accrue wealth faster than if Obama hadn’t been elected. Of course many people will have that mind-set because Obama is president. Therefore they might think that they have a better chance of making it because he/she will be of the same race as Obama. I think many people will hold on to that mentality. However during his entire campaign process I saw past his race and focused more on the policies and ways he would handle things once he were to be president. I have to say I didn’t really focus on the fact that he was half black. I don’t really know what I was trying to say by replying to this article. I guess just that I think it will be even regarding racism and its existence. I think for some people especially black people having Obama in office they might let go of racism and move ahead whereas I think some white people might further hold onto racism and won’t be able to move on. More or less having Obama in office as President-Elect is monumental anyway you choose to look at it and for me personally I couldn’t be happier.
Children are affected by what their parents tell them, what their teachers teach them, what they watch on TV and see on the news. After the Obama election the face of America has changed. Children will be eating off of their placemats at breakfast see years and years of old white guys and then in 2009 they will see the change the United States have made. The idea of the President of the United States has now changed. For generations the face of America has been an old white man. Not a woman and definitely not someone of another racial background. It was amazing when we elected JFK as a Catholic to be president. Now we have elected a president who is half black. Having a president of another racial background can prove to our children that they can really do anything they set their minds to. Even though Obama has yet to take office, the soul fact that he has run for the most iconic position in our country and has been voted into office is groundbreaking for the United States. This occurrence means so much to those of us who are old enough to vote, who have seen a couple of presidents in office, and have been through years of schooling to learn about America’s past, but for those who are younger than us this is monumental and they have yet to really understand. The face and image of America has changed and this is the start of amazing strides our country will make in the field of race relations.
I agree with the overall message of the "Obamakids" article. The younger generation will certainly be profoundly affected by Obama's election. In all my years in school, the presidents you learned about were old white men. That's just how it was, and no one really questioned it. It's one of those subtle things in our American society that unfortunately promotes white supremacy. These subtle methods of racial inequality are arguably more dangerous than outward, violent messages of hate because they become internal to our society's thinking. With Barack Obama being elected into office, this is certainly a step in the right direction. Obviously I knew how historic this was when I was watching the news on election night, but it didn't really sink in until I heard my black and brown classmates reflecting the next day in Soc 119 class. To hear how profoundly it affected their perspectives on opportunity in our country was really interesting. My only hesitation with Obama's election is that he is not a typical citizen. He earned his college and law degrees at prestigious universities and is very well off now. Don't get me wrong - he definitely worked hard and earned it. But not everyone should get their hopes up to necessarily have such lofty accomplishments. And, they shouldn't put too much pressure on Obama - he is taking office at a time when America is struggling profoundly, and it is going to take time to get things going in the right direction.
- Katie Wiedie
Eight years from now (if Obama is reelected) I do not think there will be much change in race relations. When the REAL change in race relations is going to happen is twenty years from now, at the very earliest. Just because a biracial man is elected, people’s opinions that grew up in the 60’s, 70’s, and 80’s, are not just going to magically change. They have their beliefs and once having them for so long, a certain belief is hard to drop.
But as McWhorter argues, current ten years old are the beginning of a new racial attitude. These children do not have memories of past presidents and will develop as a new biracial president is in office. This will make children more open to race and see that anything is possible for anybody in this country. Race relations between young adults will improve greatly. These ten year olds will be eighteen at the end of Obama’s two terms (once again, if he were to be reelected). They will then grow up, get married and have children, and pass their new open attitude onto their spouse and children. It is here that having a biracial president will have a huge impact on race relations.
I am like many students that are a little over the Obama race discussion because of the huge hype involved during the election season. Of all the things I have heard over the past year or so, I noticed while reading this article that I hadn't heard the idea that supposing Obama is elected for two terms the young generation of children in the United States will be "Obamakids." For children growing up with a black man in the most powerful position in the world, it will be of the norm, not a unfathomable ideal prior to Barack being elected. I think that this new generation of children will make more advances in terms of race relations that even the election of Barack Obama. It's like my generation opened the flood gates and positive relations are in our future. On the flip side, I am a little apprehensive to accentuate the race issue in Obama's election. I say this because if race is such a priority and put in the spotlight like it has been, I am nervous that our society will hold Obama on a higher pedistal than prior presidents. Every president I can think of never has enough time to fulfill all duties he 'promises' to achieve and while the short comings are pointed out, it quickly fades into the background. I am worried that if Obama doesn't fulfill his 'promises' it will have a backlash affect and hinder the growth for all black's in society.
This article opened my eyes to another perspective that I had not yet considered. I knew that Obama being elected as our first non-white president was a HUGE deal. I realized how amazing it was to see where we were and how far we’ve come in our history. I hadn’t, however, thought about the younger generation. I didn’t really think about how younger children (10 year olds, for example) are going to grow up with a black president. They probably won’t even remember having a white president, really. It really is an interesting thought.
I don’t think, however, that Obama being president will suddenly change race relations in a huge way. Older generations will probably still keep whatever mindset they had before he was elected. Race relations will change, however, in the younger generations. They are going to grow up with a different idea of what the president is or can be. Just as our generation is more open to homosexuality, their generation will, probably, be more open to racial differences…and similarities. Having Obama, a non-white male, as president is a huge step for our country. I mean, if older generations can change their minds this much about having someone “different” (than a white male) in the highest seat of power, just imagine how differently the younger generations will think. A half-black president might be all they really know.
Jazzmin Grant-Wright
Soc 119
December 4, 2008
200 Words
Eight years from now things could look different to MOST people. I believe that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and if Obama can see change, conformity and decency in the replication of America than by all means I am all for it.
It’s MOST not SOME; people are slowly, but surely realizing America is the land of the free and anything can happen. Clinton got a blowjob; Senator was in debt with thousand dollar prostitutes etc. I mean shit happens that way.
I heard in class that now young black children can now say with concrete evidence that they will be the president of the united states when they get older and there is some truth to this argument. I always thought that black youth could be anything they way wanted to be as long as they had the support and was prepared for whatever came their way. I live my life thinking that I can be better than the next person because I know that I am a smart capable and willing woman that strives to be the best. I have long heard that there would come a time when the world around me would change. And I always thought it was a natural disaster on earth or a major resurrection that would cause grief in people’s lives. But it was an advancement of a well-spoken leader that has set his word to not change our minds, but believe in change.
I agree with McWhorter in that the generation that will be growing up only knowing of a black man being the leader of the free world is going to dramatically change their perception of race and power in American society. For me being born during the elder Bush’s presidency and growing up pre-adolescence for the two Clinton terms and my teenage years with Dubya, has created a different reality for me compared to my parents who grew up mostly under Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon and Ford. My parents had four very different presidents in their own right, but now the difference between Clinton, Bush and Obama is not only radical in skin color, but also ideologies. The way kids born from 2004 until possibly 2016 view the highest office in the country is going to be drastically different from the way I did as a kid. As McWhorter said, this will affect their perceptions of race, since they weren’t as aware as my parents or my brother and me have been of the way that minorities have struggled to get political power in America. I hope that an Obama presidency will provide a better growing environment for kids this generation. This is a great time to be an American to witness the flurry of change that has been brewing so long coming about in a short amount of time.
-Mikhail Herrera
I too am looking forward in seeing how the Obama generation will view race and race relations. Without a doubt they will be more open and easily able to interact with people of others races. If Obama turns out to be a successful president, which I have much faith that he will be, it could be the greatest gift to our children. President Obama could end this separation of races and make it less of a big deal. What I mean by this is that race will not seem to matter as much as it means today to people living in this country. Race will not be an issue. Our children will be able to look at other children and not see color, they will just see the person, their soul, their beauty. Generations today seem to classify people into their stereotype and just leave it at that, not seeing beyond their race. Not being able to see their soul because their race gets in the way. In our society race is a big deal. Before Obama each generation did a better job than the previous in terms of race relations. As generations went on, the mixing of races in schools and communities increased, but I think we will see an even better attempt because of Obama’s presidency.
I have to address the issue that some white people are afraid of him being president because they think it will allow black people to become to dominate race. I am white and I am not afraid of that happening. I think Obama being president will finally be the icing on the cake that we are all equal. Obama is what this country needs. He symbolizes diversity as America is. Him being in office will open the minds of many Americans. Obama being president is finally proving too everyone that America really does mean that everyone is treated equal.
Some less- fortunate black people are jubilant because they think Obama will help them out of poverty. That’s fine that they think that, but the more important issue is that a revelation is upon us. Exactly what McWhorter said in his article, our generation. Our future generation is what matters most. I agree with what McWhorter is claiming. I am also excited to see how Obama impacts the country in terms of race. Obama being president will change the way this country sees race. It will open the minds of many Americans. It will change their views. Of course, it will not end racism because it will always exist, but it will help people become more accepting and open to it.
That article definitely made me think! I agree with Sam – its very exciting to see how the today’s young children, who grow up with a black man occupying the most powerful office in the USA, process the idea of racial discrimination. Surely previously held ideas, like that there is a ‘glass ceiling’ preventing people of color form occupying certain high power positions, will not really factor into this generations conscious. Will this really be the age when children grow up considering that racial discrimination is an issue of the past? I think this it quite possible, as when I look at my generation compared to many people of older generations there is a huge difference between our perceptions of race. A lot has changed in a relatively short amount of time. And although we still have a long way to go, I think we could be seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. I was very excited to see Obama win the election. As I am not an American citizen I was not able to vote, however I think in many ways this election was just as important to the entire world as it was to America. When Bush was in power I think America lost some of whatever it is that makes this country the world leader. On the international scene negative feelings about the USA certainly were increasing. However, I believe this will change now, I actually think it has already started to change. I am very excited to see what happens in the global political arena, and, more importantly, race relations, over the years to come.
The day after the election, I had to pose the question, 'but, will minds change?' What McWhorter has concluded was already understood to me from the first time I considered it a real possibiltiy. The fact is that brains- the formulative psyches of these young children in the United States, and the rest of the world- will be changed forever.
Obama represents the acceptance of the “other guy” essentially. It's like the country, or at least the majority coalition that won him the White House, has appropriated someone who wasn't white to lead us. Stereotypes float around about this race or that race, but there are always individuals who are very serious about not being taken seriously. It is a slap in the face to see a black man washing a nice car and ask him what team he plays for, it's a good joke to say Obama's new ride will have 20”s on it-- give it a break, kids. Dude just won the presidency, and he does a lot to grind against these ill-founded stereotypes, so respect it due just for that.
To push it further, I'd say it really depends on how well he does. The expectations are high, because a lot of people swallowed their pride to vote for him, regardless of how much better a candidate he was. If he does really badly, then they could get him out in four, and the voting public would be sour on that idea for another 16, but he'll never become just a bleep in history. It is possible.
In response to the “Obamakids” article written by McWhorter, I would say that this is an interesting new outlook on the effects of Obama being elected as our next president. So many of us are quick to critique and analyze all of the ways in which our lives will change when he is sworn into office in January, but no one has really said much in the way it’ll affect our youngest generation. I’m glad that so many young children will be able to grow up with a mixed-race man in office and not think that it’s “groundbreaking” or anything. They’ll just think that it’s normal, as they should. Hopefully this will take some of the emphasis off of how important the color of a person’s skin is. Maybe one day in the future it will be as common-place as a person’s hair color. It would be ridiculous today to say something like “the first blonde president of America,” just like in the future it would be ridiculous to say “the first mixed-race president of America.” Hopefully race just will not matter anymore or be seen as such a topic of discussion. Slowly, the youngest generation’s thinking will slowly replace the way that many of our elderly still think today, which is that race is an important part of who a person is.
I personally think that in eight years the country will still look the same. What people do not understand is that yes Obama is black and alot of people agree with him and his political views,but he is not going to change the United States. This country is to corrupt and it would not have mattered if McCain won or Obama. It basically boils down to that both McCain and Obama were and still are puppets with strings. People in this country have a real short memory and for some reason everybody in this country is so easily brainwashed. The big media used race and the black card to get everybody caught up in the election while grand theft America continued. I personally believe that in four or eight years depending that this country will still be the same. Their will still be black and white people alike living below the poverty line, the middle class will be screwed by ridiculously high taxes and the super elite will still run the show. The sooner people realize that how corrupt our country is the better off we will be a nation. I wish for once that people will take a giant step back and realize that race just like everything else is just another way for the super elite to capture our ever so fragile minds. Really in my eyes the problem boils down to money and the true power that is has. The only solution is to have people unlearn what they think they know and for once really have people educate themselves.
This is huge and I would like to see how much the future really does change because of this. The impact America has on the rest of the world is huge, and having someone like Obama at the highest job in America is truly inexpressible. This will not only show that the doors are open to all kinds of possibilities, but it will also encourage and push other individuals who are part of minority groups to make a difference and reach to the top. Obama clearly represents change and how far equality has come from the past. I also find it extremely interesting how a lot of people in the Black community feel that Obama is representing them all and that if he makes a difference he will actually make it a lot harder for the rest of their community in the future. I feel it is definitely unfair for him to be viewed and treated in that way, because in reality Obama is actually multiracial as we all know. The future is definitely going to be interesting. I read an article recently, where black males have faith that in the future that James Bond will one day be an individual who is black. I find this extremely fascinating how they have faith in all these things. But at the same time I do not see why it is significant whether a character like James Bond is White or a different color. It does not matter! I think the world is starting to see.
I agree with most of the article; however, I think before we actually start to see progress from this monumental time in history we are going to have some tough times, things will get worse before they get better. However many people say they want change there are always those people that are afraid of change and will do anything from allowing that change to happen. But beyond that I do think that this is a great step for our country and race relations. However, this is especially great for children of this generation and generations to come because in a since the glass ceiling for people of color has been broken opening opportunities to every one. It not just that children of color can now aspire to being the president of the United States and parents can without hesitation tell their children (they can be anything they aspire to be). This is truly a new time and this election has not only changed one set of people but the world, and I frankly just hope I’m around to see what is going happens. We aren’t just going to see changes in our government, but in our communities and households and that is where a lot of people’s foundations lay. The only thing that I’m worried about is not whether the US is ready for Barack, but rather are they ready for Michelle?
I think that the “Obama Kids” article brings up some awesome points. The fact that young kids who are growing up right now and learning the ways of the world will see a black man in office for the next four (possibly eight) years will hopefully be an incredible thing for race relations in this country. The author makes sure to acknowledge that it obviously won’t solve the whole problem of racism, but it will certainly help. I was extremely moved when one of the guest speakers that came into class after the election talked about how now black parents could tell their kids that they could be anything they wanted to be and mean it. Some white people who were born with what is referred to as “white privilege” may not realize it, but that’s huge. Up until about five seconds ago, there was an entire population of people living in this country who were born into this world with the unspoken knowledge that their dreams had limits. And just like that, with the election of a black man in the highest, most honorable office in the country, these feelings of limitation are slowly being lifted. And maybe it’s always supposedly been true but now it actually feels like it; the “American dream” can and should apply to every American, and not just white Americans.
I do not think that Obama's victory in the presidency will have any effect on the race relations. I hear people keep saying, “now I can tell my kids that they can become whatever they want”. Oh please, we all grew up hearing how we can become whatever we want. What kind of a parent tells the kids “no you can’t become the president because you are black/brown/yellow”. Anyways the point is, in my opinion, Obama becoming the president of this country won’t help race relations. Yes, in 10 years or 20 years, eventually relationship between different races will get better, but that’s because the society itself will become much more diverse. From experience, I found out that, kids who grow up in a very diverse community tend to discriminate less, and are better at keeping positive relationship with other race, compare to kids who grew up in a closed communities. As times passes, US will become more and more diverse, and I think this is the most important element that will slowly bring everyone together in harmony. Another thing, if Obama wasn’t half white, I honestly do not believe that he would’ve not become the president. If he was 100% black, I don’t thing he would’ve gained much of a vote from white people, and that’s why I think Obama will have nothing to do with race relations.
This article poses an extremely relevant point, that perhaps the new generations to come will view the world and race relations completely differently than my generation does today. I think my generation has been put at a huge advantage for having been able to witness a black man take the presidency. It speaks volumes about how far we’ve come as a nation and how much farther we are capable of going. It represents progress and hope, and I don’t think we should lose sight of that just because the “Obama kids” won’t fully understand how he got to where he is today. It is extremely important to note, however, that what McWhorter was trying to say might, in fact, hold true to a certain extent. It is a scary concept to think that the “Obama kids” won’t fully understand the issues of racism, that they may not believe it exists to the extent that it does, or that they might think we are all equal in this country. Obviously we’re not all equal, racism is everywhere, and it isn’t going to go away just because we have a black man in the white house. There is a lot to be said for the unbelievable achievements that Obama has made, but we cannot ignore the very real circumstances of racism in America. It is incredibly important that these kids understand the time period that took place while Obama was elected president, and how severely our country has struggled over issues of superiority, race, money and equality. It is crucial that they understand we still have a long way to go in this country, and that change doesn’t happen overnight. They must understand that we need to keep talking about race relations, but that Obama may just be our beacon of hope for what the future brings.
I have mixed feelings about this article. On the one hand, I do believe that the fact that a black man was able to become the president, a feat that is clearly unprecedented in this country, is quite remarkable. And I do think that this symbolizes a great change for our nation and proves that we are on our way towards a more just and equal society. However on the other hand, I do realize that this is a long ways away, and that America has a lot of work to do in the race relations department. I agree with what the author is writing to a certain extent because the new generation of children in this country was not exposed to the election the way I was. They did not see the fight that Obama had to win in order to obtain the position he holds today. He worked incredibly hard and challenged a lot of traditional ideas. Progress didn’t just happen right away, it took a lot of work and generations of civil rights movements for this country to get to this point today. The new children cannot forget the fact that racism is very real. And even though I do hope future generations will be better diversified and that their relationships with people of opposite ethnicities and races will prevail, I still think it is extremely vital that they understand this country’s past history, where racism came from, and more importantly, where it is going.
After reading the “Obamakids” article, I totally agree with the opinion of the author. I didn’t realize it at first, but this election was an enormous leap for not only African Americans (even though it was especially big for them) but for the nation as a whole, and other nations as well. Obama being elected President of the United States will affect everyone in the world, I believe. There is no doubt that this country will be going through a huge transformation in the years to follow, but I think the change already started before he was actually elected president. I mean, the majority of America came together several months ago to help him win the primaries. Then, the majority of America came together again on election day to pronounce him as our next president. That means that most of the people in this nation are not as narrow minded as people once believed them to be. Chances are, these people aren’t preaching hate messages to their children, but are raising them to be respectful of other cultures. Nevertheless, these children will grow up knowing that being a white male isn’t one of the requirements for being president in this country. I think the thing that will have the greatest affect on America’s people throughout the next four or eight years is the fact that everyone in the country will get used to that family leading the country. I think the biggest component to narrow minds is the ignorance of not knowing what something or someone is like. Obama and his family will be on news screens daily throughout these years, and the idea of other races or cultures running this country will just become familiar. I look forward to seeing how all of this unfolds, as well.
I think they it is very interesting to think about what the Obama presidency will do to young children spending 8 of their crucial development years in a country with a black president—scratch that—a president who is not an old white male. It is such a huge deal that everyone is talking about. Obama winning the election is a huge deal to everyone right now. We have all grown up around racism having a role in our lives, to some extent at the very least.
I can hardly imagine what it would have been like to grow up and see a minority in the white house. It might be true to even say that they will not understand why it is supposed to be such a big deal. I never really thought about that until now, and it truly is a weird thing to think about.
Since all of the election craziness started, I have always felt that Obama winning the election would do so much for the country. The fact that we were able to vote in someone who is not a white male is incredible. I just never stopped to really think about what it would be like for children who are growing up now. I do not really know how it would have affected me to have grown up now as opposed to when I did, but I really do think it will be extremely interesting to see what it does to the generation below me. There is no way that it will be quite as it was for me.
I definitely agree with the fact that having Obama in the White House will truly have great benefits on our younger generation. It can't be put much better than knowing that children will finally grow up with a black president leading the country. This has not been the case for the last 200 years, which has only furthered stereotypes and racism. But now that there is a black man leading the country, every single child of every single race can grow up and actually strive to be a president. Instead of just knowing that they can technically be president because they're a US citizen, they can now actually put this into action and maybe even take a run for office. This has tremendous and monumental consequences and I agree with the article with the notion that in 20 years from now, we might have to actually explain racist shows, etc. People will grow up without the environment and society telling them who has power in society. They will grow up actually thinking we are all equal, and over time, the racism will gradually be weeded out of society until we are truly an equal democracy.
The second major consequence of Obama’s presidency, as I see it, is its effect on the world as a whole. America has always been seen by outsiders as a racist, white ruled country. It was seen as the country of opportunity, yet it was never the country of ultimate opportunity. But with a black person leading the country, everyone in the world is coming to realize that America finally is a complete country of opportunity. It is now a country where one can work hard and be anything and everything they want to be. Many countries are already ahead of us with their female presidents and leaders of other races, but America has always lagged behind. And America is thought to be the greatest purveyor of equality, but as equal as we might say we are, we still had not proved that everything was fair. I mean you can’t say there is equality in America when there has been one president (JFK) in the history of the nation who was not a White Protestant. But now, we can really and truly promote ourselves as a top tier nation of democracy. We still have a ways to go, but we have taken a big step in finally acting like the democratic and egalitarian society that we say we are.
The article "Obamakids" by John H. McWhorter brought up some ideas of having a black president in the white house would have on the youth of America. The idea of having the first black president was always just a faded dream for me. I could not even imagine a woman president. We live in a country where white men have run the white house and the country for so long that the idea of a black or woman president seems far fetched.
The article brought up the children who would be born under Obama's presidency would have a harder time seeing the racial divide since there is a black man running the country and that would be all they know. Seeing that their president is black, the concept of racial inequalities becomes blurred and if Obama were to be twice elected, that would be nearly a generation of the country being run by a black man. My children would grow up not even having a preconceived knowledge of how minorities weren't in such high positions as presidency.
The question that came into mine was is that a bad thing? Isn't it good that race relations is getting better the fact we are able to have our children grow up in a world where the leader of our nation is black? I would like to think so as long as he does a great job. Seeing that a white president has messed up the country so bad, maybe having a black president with a good head on his shoulder would not only bring our country out of a slump but also take us beyond racial inequalities positively. Children of all races can grow up having a different image of who has power in this nation of ours.
The article "Obamakids" by John H. McWhorter brought up some ideas of having a black president in the white house would have on the youth of America. The idea of having the first black president was always just a faded dream for me. I could not even imagine a woman president. We live in a country where white men have run the white house and the country for so long that the idea of a black or woman president seems far fetched.
The article brought up the children who would be born under Obama's presidency would have a harder time seeing the racial divide since there is a black man running the country and that would be all they know. Seeing that their president is black, the concept of racial inequalities becomes blurred and if Obama were to be twice elected, that would be nearly a generation of the country being run by a black man. My children would grow up not even having a preconceived knowledge of how minorities weren't in such high positions as presidency.
The question that came into mine was is that a bad thing? Isn't it good that race relations is getting better the fact we are able to have our children grow up in a world where the leader of our nation is black? I would like to think so as long as he does a great job. Seeing that a white president has messed up the country so bad, maybe having a black president with a good head on his shoulder would not only bring our country out of a slump but also take us beyond racial inequalities positively. Children of all races can grow up having a different image of who has power in this nation of ours.
In regards to ‘Obamakids’, I definitely agree with this article. Although it is important to have black or brown CEO’s or superstars, it truly is important for people of other races and cultures to see that you can be MORE than just famous. Having a black president shows black and brown people of all ages that you don’t have to settle in life. If you want to live ‘big’ and shoot for the stars, go all the way! It is a positive message for other races to know that we now have a president who is black (and white) AND young.
I remember when I was a little girl I had a major complex about there being no such thing as black angels or mermaids. Although these things may be fictional, and unimportant, why should a 6 or 7 year old girl be worried about that? I was so upset because all I ever saw was white angels and mermaids. I cannot express how much it hurt me as a child, I remember feeling so disappointed because all I wanted was to see objects that I loved look like ME. Now that I’m older I’m able to see the importance of having multi-racial figures that are positive and not limited to just athletes or movie and music “stars”.
In one of our classes someone mentioned that it is important to let children know that when they grow up they can be anything they want to, even though some things MAY not be possible, simply because of race. But now that we have a black (and white) president, she is able to confidently tell her little sister that all things are possible. What she said really hit home with me, because I feel the exact same way now. I can look at my children and tell them that we have had a black (and white) president, and if Obama can make it this far just imagine what you will be able to do. It is a beautiful thing!
What I like about this article is the fact that when Obama won the presidency all I could think of was my ten year old little sister. In eight years, she will be eighteen and she will never think to herself that she cannot do something because of the color of her skin. There are black people and hispanic people in positions of power all over. At the age of ten, I never thought that a black man would ever be able to become president. I was and still am a very visual person. When I was ten, the history books and the television always showed me a white president. When I was in high school, I was positive that I was going to have to fight for my spot in college, to work after college, to get a home or even get a loan. When I got to college,I took Racism and Sexism and my teacher told me MY GENERATION would be the first to witness a black president and I said "NO!" and I was sure of it. But, my younger sister will never feel that, because her president is black. My sister may have times in which she may feel oppressed and discriminated against but she will know that she will be able to overcome it. Because its already happened, countless times and recently the time that counted the most. A black man is president and my ten year old sister witnessed it and she saw the tears in my mothers eyes and me in my state of shock over the phone. She may not know it now, but one day she'll be in history class studying that very moment and she'll know why we were crying and she'll be proud to know that she witnessed history. She'll know that she can accomplish anything and that she can change anything so long as she works towards it.
Truthfully, I must say that I completely agree with this blog/article. The Obama presidency will do wonderful things not only for black people in the United States, but for us as a whole. This is a crucial step in the development of race relations.
The one thing in the article that I had not thought about previously is the impact of eight (hopefully) years of a black man in office. Since the beginning of U.S. politics, this highest office has always been held by a white man. I believe that the “Obama children” will be pioneers for interracial relations. I attempted to discern, in my own mind, what my life would have been like if Obama had been in office while I grew up, but honestly found it impossible. What I discerned, and what I find most ironic, is that I would not have understood the significance of what was happening. I would not have realized that this man was the first of his race to hold this highest of offices and that his election was a major step in the progression of the United States. No, I would have simply looked at the T.V. and seen our president. No such feelings would have crossed my mind. In fact, this is the fundamental change that will be so monumental in racial relations. Since these children will be growing up with such an influence, a great deal of prejudices will be destroyed before they may even be formed. In fact, if one wishes to think of it in these terms, the entire “pre-encounter” stage for white people will simply cease to exist.
In response to the "Obamakids" article. I do believe that it is in fact a monumental moment in American history. No previous generation has seen anything like it. Many people that were around in the 50's, 60's and 70's would never truthfully believe that there would be an African American that would be the president of the united states. It does in fact open the windows like McWhorter was saying, but he went a little far in the impact this particular election will have. I do not think that people of color in prison will dramatically decrease immediately just because of Obama. He also touched on a few other points that were nice, bit not completely realistic. My stance is closer to Sam's and I do think that sky is the limit in the future for us and especially generations following ours. McWhorter made a good point that this new generation that is about 10 years old is going to see a black president for he majority of the beginning of their lives if he is elected again in 4 years. Their generation will show the true impact that Obama has on the United States because at their age they will begin to see things as race and be mature enough to understand some political concepts. Their parents will have a strong influence, but in a time where racism and race relations is better than ever. I feel that we will see a lot more interracial relationships and more minorities feel confident to go for executive positions.
As a Nation we have come a long way in realizing race and being more accepting of different groups of people. With the election of our 1st African American president Barack Obama, I believe we will begin to move even further into the integration of race in society. All people are now forced to be aware, which will in turn show them that racism no longer needs to exist especially when the leader of our country is an African American. Therefore, in regards to the article titled, ‘Obamakids’ I agree with the author and his thoughts in that most children growing up in today’s society, will begin to become more aware of race and instead of relating different groups of people with stereotypes and discriminatory or prejudice situations rather this children may not even realize the difference in what history first created. If Obama is elected a second consecutive term this will further the fight to eliminate racism and discrimination as a common dilemma in everyday activities. Furthermore, children will become more integrated with certain individuals of different races and in turn become more accepting of these types of people. Although it seems as if this article is specifically geared towards explaining the reactions of kids of the white race, I believe it is necessary to have a group effort in curbing this type of racial behavior. With the further integration of all people working together to change the ideas of a previously racist society, we will strive as a nation free from a divided country of racial boundaries. All in all, we will overcome these boundaries and hopefully one day in the near future, totally eliminate racism all together. Electing Barack Obama as the President of The United States has already affected us positively on a whole and although it will take some time to accomplish Obama’s objective of “Change”, we are off to a great start.
I love what he says about ten year olds living their formative years with Obama as president. In my discussion group we discussed something similar. This presidency is going to really shake things up for the country and for the world, being that we are in the limelight. While larger voices in the country may be expressing discontent with Obama's race, we have to look at the depths of the country. In most ghetto, worst areas of cities, you probably have African American kids hoping to be rappers someday, but now their dreams are going to change. Now they are going to realize they are not limited at all and they can be anything, including the president of the United States. What an awesome thing. They may have already had this dream for a fleeting moment, but now that can see with their own eyes that its truly attainable. It's one thing to say "yeah you can be president" but its another thing to actually see it happen. THat's incredible to me. Obama and his win are going to change the dreams of children. Kids growing up during his presidency are going to see that greatness and power has nothing to do with what color you are.
To think that not so long ago, the idea of a black man becoming the president was a far out idea. I think it is great that children growing up for the next 8 years will have that image of the president being a black man. Think of what the schools will be forced to recognize. Text books will be changed, idea and viewpoints will be changed, there is much in store. In class Sam told the story about the black man finally not feeling like he is lying to his son when he asks if he can be president one day. That was a touching moment for me. But this article says something about black people making the assumption that any black man high up in politics or power will lose sense of being black, and be turned into a white person. I don’t think so. Barack was already high up in politics. People are confusing the term “white person” and “politician.” I think there is an understanding of what politicians are like. Yes they have been dominated by white people, but Barack is basically a white person already. His mannerisms, they way he talks, and his overall life was pretty white. So he was already like that, and I don’t know about the image of black men in power will really be changed.
I found the article interesting...to say the least.
I read a blog entry about what the world will look like in eight years. Being born in the first Bush era, having an African American president seems radical to me. Don’t get me wrong, I support Obama and have supported him throughout the campaign. Where I grew up, I was extremely sheltered from African Americans. I don’t remember even talking to one until high school. However, I think Obama can begin to change our country for the better. George W. Bush has gotten our country into a recession, among other things. I think I went with Obama sort of because of my dislike for the republicans (and mainly because of Bush). When making that decision, I honestly didn’t care whether the candidates were black or white. That is not how I based my decision. I think it is a great opportunity for Obama. He is getting a chance to do something that no other man has done before. It is inspiring to think that this kind of thing can happen to our country, which has only seen a white older man in the White House. This opens up opportunities for other people of color, I think. They may feel like the country is more equal, after so many years of inequality. After talking to my African American friend when Obama got elected, these things became apparent to me. She was extremely happy that he was elected, and was a big supporter through it all. She told me that she talked to her Grandmother at that time and how she was crying because she was so happy to see change in the country. Another friend of mine had a very different view of the election. Living in West Virginia, she was really against Obama. She was distraught that they would “let a black man run this country”. But after hearing this, I really hope that he can prove that he is an excellent person to be running this country. I want him to show that he can get us out of a recession, and make up for the things that Bush lost while he has been in office. I want to see change, which is what he is all about. What McWhorter talked about was very true. Kids my age are not used to what is about to happen and we have never seen anything like this before. Though some may be worried, I think Obama will prove that he can run the country. For kids younger than us, they may not even know what it was like to have a white president, and they will have a completely different look at our country and how much it has changed in the past years, and how much it will change in the years to come.
Eight years from now things could look very different to some people. The simple fact that an African American male has been elected President of the United States speaks volumes as to how far we have grown as a nation. The one thing that scares me though is the opinions people will have not only about Barack Obama, but blacks general, should Barack fail to bring about the change he has promised this nation. Should Barack fail it could be a major setback, not only for African Americans, but for all minority groups as well. If Obama fails to do a good job not only will it be an eternity before another African American is elected president, it will also be an eternity before we see a woman, Asian American, native American, or any other minority group in power. Obama has to realize that while he has made history by being the first African American to be elected president, he has not made history by being the first African American to be elected and be a good president. To make matters worse, he’s entered the White House in a time when our country hasn’t seen such turmoil in quite some time. He’s entered the White House only to be faced with a failing economy in dire need of rescue, a war in Iraq and a war on terror, a poor educational system, a poor healthcare system, and the ever increasing pressure of attempting to rely more on renewable forms of energy, instead of foreign oil. It’s the first four years that I believe will truly have the most impact on the legacy the Obama leaves behind. He has a large amount of work to do in order to please the people of this country. The thing that I believe that has hurt him the most is the George Bush presidency. In my opinion, George Bush has done so much to cause Americans to lose all confidence in government. Obama, who has a large amount of support and confidence from the American people, cannot afford to make any mistakes at all, which is unfair to me. Should he make those mistakes, you will have those people who will say it was because he was black and nothing else and these are the people who truly scare me. If he does a good job it will only reiterate that African Americans are capable of, not only holding positions of power, but the highest position of power: The President of the United States of America. Should he fail to deliver I doubt that there will be another black president in another one hundred years. That’s the harsh reality of it. He has so much to lose, but also so much to gain, and not for himself, but for everyone who put their faith in him, hoping that he can lead us in a way only a good president can.
In responding to the blog eight years from now things could look really different to some people which I definitely agree with that. Since Barack Obama got elected as the 44th president of The United States of America, he has already created plans that will be placed immediately after he is done with them. I also agree with the article that it does matter that we have an African American male as president and that can take initiative to have ultimate power in a position like Obama has. Right now, Barack Obama has the most powerful position in the United States of America and has the ability to call the shots in the government. This change will take effect of all of our lives in the America and hopefully it will change the views of the way people think. We needed something different instead of a white male in power to give an African American male, females, or other minorities a chance in America. This caught a lot of us including myself off guard, that we have an African American male as president so soon. I believe that things will change eventually but not immediately. In the article about John McWhorter have discussed about how important the Obama presidency was. John McWhorter had argued about how important that African American males stick by and help raise your child. Obama had given a speech about African American males raised their children and don’t be a dead beat dad. I like the whole idea of the ObamaKids will be place into effect in the future, because by doing so it will help the credibility of African American males are father’s can look in a more positive in society. Jesse Jackson was mentioned in the article of McWhorter about how he was going to get involved in something like this. In my eyes, a brilliant idea like will help significantly African Americans as a whole who are fathers and who aren’t fathers yet, and prepared them to take responsibilities if they ever have children. In this sense of the proposals that Obama are preparing, I believe that the intrusiveness and the informative speeches Obama have will help us if only if we as citizens of the United States of America abide by them. I believe that the United States will go in the right direction economically, socially, racially inclined to get a better understanding of other cultures, and to help us broaden our horizons. Barack Obama’s stimulus plans might even help college student’s bailout. This will substantially help a lot of college students who not fortunate to pay for college, who aren’t eligible for finacicial aid, parents or guardians who can’t afford to pay for their children or family member’s education, and worst of all to avoid taking about massive amounts of loans which will leave a college student in big time debit.
Baby Names:
“What’s in a name? A rose by any other name…” You know how it goes, but that simply is not true. I found it fascinating that the babies of Zimbabwe were named after current conditions or what was going on at the time of their birth. This seems like a great idea. While it may seem peculiar to us it is a rather clever idea, and these names have much more meaning than a Scott or a Matt. It may be different than what we do here where either a name is chosen at random from a baby name book, or if you are lucky you may be named after a relative or someone that was special to your parents. Otherwise there is no telling what one might be named. I know in my case my mom liked the name Matthew because in Hebrew it is translated to gift from God. It is nice that they picked it for its meaning, but it really does not have a significance in my family, and since it was one of the most popular baby names of 1987 it kind of cheapens it. My middle comes from a member of our family who passed away before I was born, so I guess there is some significance there, and I am glad for that.
It seems that some celebrities are going for shock value when they are naming their off spring. Some celebrities in recent years have started to name their children with interesting names. The first I can remember was Gwyneth Paltro naming her daughter Apple. There was an uproar when that name was chosen. But other stars have named their kids everything from Frank Zappa’s kids Dweezil, Moon Unit and Diva Muffin to Rob Marrow’s daughter Tu, her name is Tu Marrow! Come on now! She sounds like a stripper. These names range from clever at best to obnoxious and awkward. This practice is unfair to the child, their lives will be hard enough being the child of a star. I am glad that my “normal” name will at least allow me to fit into the crowed.
These creative names are one thing. Naming your child after one of the most evil men that has ever lived is quite another matter. This just shows that some people are still truly ignorant. Imagine when that poor child goes to school, not only will he have to deal with the3 awkwardness of adolescents, but he will be ridiculed because his parents are either just stupid or stupid white supremacists. That is unfair, and if it were up to me DCF should take the couple’s children away. This name choice should be considered child abuse.
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