It’s been just over six months since the first African-American president assumed the reigns of leader of the free world and thus became arguably the most powerful man on earth.
It’s been just over six months since the first African-American president assumed the reigns of leader of the free world and thus became arguably the most powerful man on earth. Following slavery, centuries of institutional racism, unequal access to education, jobs and the pursuit of prosperity, America voluntarily voted for a Black man to hold the highest office in the land. And after running on a platform of unity and staying above the fray of racial divisiveness, President Obama finds himself at the center of bigotry, race baiting and hatred – and this time the right wing fringe is attempting to portray him as the racist.
A few weeks back, Fox News anchor Glenn Beck engaged in an all-too familiar rant where he began attacking the president of the United States. Literally pulling out a wobbling Black doll holding an umbrella that he called Obama, Beck went on a tirade over how the president’s proposed health care reform would "remake America" and that people should be very, very afraid. With neurotic-type gestures, Beck espoused that Obama was taking the “beacon of freedom and turning it into an apologetic, hey, what can you do for me, wannabe European, spread the wealth, socialist wonderland."
As if such vitriol and fear mongering wasn’t incomprehensible enough, the Fox loudmouth went one step further last week in a move that even astonished his bosses when he called Obama a flat out racist.
Following the election in November, the nation was immersed in the progress of finally electing an African-American into a house that was literally constructed on the backs of slaves. Many, in an idealistic manner, hoped that society would now advance into a post-racial environment where skin color, ethnicity, creed and religion wouldn’t play such intense roles, and discrimination would subside.
Unfortunately, what we must remember is that despite having a Black president, inequities in education, housing and work still exist, and that the institutional structure of society hasn’t shifted all that much.
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