Why can't we talk about race?

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-01-2008
Why can't we talk about race?
93
Wed, 10-15-2008 - 4:35pm

I've seen this come up here and elsewhere. In the *very strange* thread about Obama's birthplace (or something like that; I couldn't follow the propaganda, quite frankly), two posters said that they wish Michelle Obama had not referenced race. (I don't mean to point those individuals out but merely point out their posts.)

In a country where race is a huge elephant in the room, I don't understand why we shouldn't talk about it. Of course this election is about race. For the first time in our country's history, a black man is running for president on a major political party ticket.

It doesn't have to be a bad thing or a good thing. But race is a factor in this election. It's not necessarily a factor because of McCain or Palin or Obama or Biden -- but because one of the candidates is black. Likewise, gender is an issue, simply because we have a woman on the Republican ticket. Why avoid the topic? Why suggest that the candidates or their spouses not talk about it?

Laura

Pages

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-20-2008
Wed, 10-15-2008 - 6:10pm
OT but I've been noticing your spelling...Are you from Europe? If so, whereabouts? What draws you to the American election?
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Wed, 10-15-2008 - 6:13pm

Photobucket

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-13-2008
Wed, 10-15-2008 - 6:16pm
I'll be voting for Obama in 3 weeks. :)

Full length fiction: worlds undone

"You have no power over my body..." ~ Anne Hutchinson

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-01-2008
Wed, 10-15-2008 - 6:32pm

>>I'm still unclear though on how you took my comments to indicate I felt race shouldn't be discussed ... in general.

You're right, I didn't respond to that. And I didn't mean to suggest that you felt race shouldn't be discussed in general. What I was reacting to was your comment that Michelle Obama does make "everything" about race. From what I've read and heard, the Obamas seem to have a very healthy outlook on what it means to be black in America -- I mean that they don't seem overly angry but they also acknowledge that their lives are different because of their race. In the times that I've heard either of them mention race, the comments have seemed relevant, responsible and reasonable.

Does that clear things up?

Laura

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-18-2008
Wed, 10-15-2008 - 6:38pm
Unfortunately race and gender are still issues in American politics. I choose not to talk about it because for me, it doesn't matter. I can't wait until the day comes that we have a African-American lesbian as our president and no one even bats an eyelash....

Meez 3D avatar avatars games


Meez 3D avatar avatars games

 

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-13-2008
Wed, 10-15-2008 - 6:40pm

That particular honour should have gone to Barbara Jordan, sigh. She was lost long before her time, precluded from running due to illness. IMO, this was a huge, huge loss to this country.


Full length fiction: worlds undone

"You have no power over my body..." ~ Anne Hutchinson

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-07-2008
Wed, 10-15-2008 - 6:40pm

Seems Geraldine Farrero did talk about it and say quite correctly that Obama would not be where he is if he were not black and wow did the Dems come down on her.


Obama will get 95% of the black votes simply because he is black.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Wed, 10-15-2008 - 6:42pm

basically ...


I hope mine has cleared things up as well.

Photobucket

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-13-2008
Wed, 10-15-2008 - 6:54pm

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-26-2008
Wed, 10-15-2008 - 7:03pm

Obama will get 95% of the black votes simply because he is black.


Pages