Response to: Obama: The Post-Race President

I would like to respond to Luke's blog: Obama: The Post-Race President. I feel everyone hoped Obama becoming President would be the one who would end the racial tension in America. His election created a great deal of change in attitudes, but the change didn't last long.

I agree with you when you said, "if American racial tensions were really over, why would we be excited about a black president?" I think it was a sorry excuse for a quick cure for racism as well as false hope. Maybe for African Americans it is hope that everything will be okay. Or maybe for some having an African American President gives them hope for their future. In a poll conducted by PollingReport.com reports, about 40% of people think Obama's presidency has improved race relations, with blacks more likely to see positive change.
The election of a black man to the U.S. Presidency did not mark the beginning of post-race society but instead seems to have ushered in a hyper-raced society.

I really liked what you said below and agree wholeheartedly.

"If we really want to prove that racism in America is dead, we have to show that we really truly don't care about people's skin color. People who vote for Obama because he is African-American are in my eyes just as racist as those who refuse to for the same reason. Let the man be judged on his policies and his ethics, as any other candidate is, and not by his race. This is America, aren't we all supposed to be created equal? Obama is not the post-race president."

Racial problems are still rampant across America, and Obama's presence in office is doing nothing to stem the flow. Instead of voting for a president because of his skin color we do need to concentrate on his/her policies and ethics. Think of how many voted just so we could have the first black President. I hope that one day we will be able to say that race (color) isn't an issue but it is going to take more than one person to make a difference. I sure wish it was that simple. I feel in order for there to be less racism we have to teach our children to be respectful of every race. There is no quick cure to end racism but I do feel that having Obama as our President has proven that America has come a long way to overcome racism.