Action/Reaction

Last November we took the historic step of electing the Nations first African American president. In the ensuing months since the election, there has been all kinds of theory and speculation offered on how the election would effect the politics of race. Many thought of the election as a signal that, despite gains from the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the healing could now truly begin. Others opined that those that historically had "played the race card" would lose sympathy along with, what was perceived as, a defense against and excuse for, being irresponsible, inept and even deviant. Still others foolishly saw the election as validation that race truly did not matter in America. And of course many of the victims of our racial politics hoped that the election signaled the beginning of movement toward a level playing field.
What I, for one, did not see coming, was the pushback. In my perception, while bigots still existed in the world, we had reached a point where they at least felt they needed to hide their bigotry in public. The only really safe place to spout vitriolic rhetoric was in quiet corners with only like minded people listening, or in large rooms where everyone wore a white sheet. Somehow, it now seems to have become acceptable to showcase racism on cable television and in political venues. Whether Newt Gingrich calling Sonia Sotomayor racist; Tweedledee and Tweedledum (Limbaugh and Limbaugh lite, Glenn Beck) saying that Obama hates white people; the so called "birthers" suggesting, against evidence that would be unquestionable for anyone of European ancestry, that Obama is not American; or the more subtle implication that the health care reform movement (led by a black man) has as a hidden agenda the elimination of all old people; those who have kept their socially offensive feelings under wraps certainly seem to have been empowered to bring them out of the closet.