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

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iVillage Member
Registered: 08-27-2008
Wed, 10-15-2008 - 7:13pm
Most people I believe vote for the person who will have their best interest at heart.
iVillage Member
Registered: 09-26-2008
Wed, 10-15-2008 - 7:14pm

yes, the interview, posted by a

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-04-2003
Wed, 10-15-2008 - 7:21pm

There was a lot of talk about race and gender during the primaries (on that subject, I have to admit....I'm all typed out ;o)


iVillage Member
Registered: 10-01-2008
Thu, 10-16-2008 - 5:20pm

>>General questions such as "Is there still racism in America?" or "Does Race Matter Anymore?" are a bit silly and pointless, imo.

Good thing that's not what I asked.

Laura

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-07-2008
Thu, 10-16-2008 - 5:26pm
I agree and also know many African Americans who are deeply disturbed by the race being brought into this campaign.
iVillage Member
Registered: 09-04-2008
Thu, 10-16-2008 - 5:37pm

"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."


iVillage Member
Registered: 10-01-2008
Thu, 10-16-2008 - 5:54pm

>>At this stage of the election is NOT about race for me...while at first I was very excited to see a minority in the running (perhaps a small part of the reason I voted for Obama in the primary); and I was excited to see SP on the ticket. I will not vote for either party because of race or gender.

You're oversimplifying. I'm not suggesting that because of the race of candidates, most will vote one way or the other. I'm saying that because we finally have an African-American as the presidential candidate of one of the two major parties, race is an enormous issue in this election.

Race is an issue because of the undercurrents in our country. Language is a good example. Wasn't there an enormous amount of time spent here debating whether she said "baby daddy" or babies' daddy" or "baby's daddy"? Language clearly matters, and that's but one of the many differences between a typical black candidate and a typical white candidate. (Please note that I'm not making any judgement about either -- typically there are differences, and that's all that I'm saying.) The fist-bump is another issue.

Perhaps my perspective is skewed because I live in Baltimore, where (as a white person) I am a minority. Race is a huge issue here, and I see similar currents in this election, as do most of the African Americans I know and have talked with about this.

Laura

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-01-2008
Thu, 10-16-2008 - 5:57pm

>>These are highly educated, successful, hard working everyday Americans who don't feel they are any different than their white counterparts and don't like being told they should feel they are. They feel that was well left behind and is no longer part of their life.

And I respect their position on this issue. Goodness knows that I haven't walked in their shoes. At the same time, I don't know any blacks who feel this way. (And I'm speaking of blacks across the socio-economic spectrum.) The blacks that I know *do* feel different from the whites. (And as I mention above, I'm not suggesting that this difference is a bad thing.) That says to me that there is even a divide (small or large, I don't have a clue) within the black community. That makes sense to me. Race, gender, sexual orientation -- none of these guarantee the exact same responses on anything. *smile*

Laura

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-02-2005
Thu, 10-16-2008 - 6:01pm

I think it is silly to chastise blacks for not voting for Obama.

 

Greatly Missed, Never Ever Forgotten

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-01-2008
Thu, 10-16-2008 - 6:03pm

>>Perhaps there are some who will vote one way or the other because of race or gender....but I imagine THEY Are in the minority.

I should have responded to this above. Sorry for the extra post. My personal philosophy is that we do vote (or judge people) based on our perceptions and assumptions about race. While I consider myself to be a very open minded and compassionate person, I am a product of my childhood in southwest Virginia. As a result, my reaction to African-Americans is not always fair. I have caught myself making stupid assumptions. I've had to work very, very hard to counter this -- but in all honesty, I think this will be something that I will always struggle with. Thank goodness I have good friends who are patient with me.

I know this isn't a popular opinion, and I don't mean to push my thoughts onto someone else. At the same time, it's the idea that makes the most sense to me. We've spent far too many generations marginalizing African Americans, and these impressions run deep.

Laura

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