The Race Card

Why is race such a sensitive issue in the United States? What does it mean to “Play the Race Card”?
Can we as Americans have an honest debate about race? Or, will race continue to be the most polarizing theme of our time?

For some, “Playing the Race Card” infers minorities’ use of race to game the system, while soliciting empathy in order to gain a racial advantage, or edge, while justifying apathy, and making excuses for a systemic plight.

For others, “Playing the Race Card” infers an attempt by some to slander, and mischaracterize, minorities as inferior, more likely to commit a crime, or less qualified. There by, justifying economic and social disparities, police brutality, racial profiling, and the disproportionate number minorities unemployed, or incarcerated, while strengthening racial stereotypes.

From another perspective, the fictitious “Race Card” is an opportunity to invoke “white guilt”, in order to receive, what some may perceive as an undeserved ruling, or unearned recompense.

And yet another perspective, the illusory “Race Card” is a legitimate resistance to social, economical and political disparities and injustices in society, serving to protect and support the fundamental American principle of justice, liberty, and equality for all.

As a result of the polarizing nature of “Race in America”, talk shows, news papers, and the media in general, often use the subject of race to increase readerships and viewerships while boost ratings. Nevertheless, because race matters in America, there needs to be honest and open discussion in order to progress as a nation if we are to co-exist and compete in a globalized world.

How do we as Americans have a meaningful and progressive dialogue concerning race with such varying, and often exploited difference about race?

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When Can We Have Honest Dialogue About Race?

Talking about racism is a hollow conversation without first discussing its origin, from slavery to Jim Crow, the segregated south and separate but equal, Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity laws, and most recently corporate Diversity/Sensitivity Training and Cultural Awareness. The purpose of each of these initiatives was to change and cultivate old ways of thinking that suggested any race was inferior to another. These initiatives were designed with elements to reverse racist ideologies, and behavior, that prohibited African Americans from pursuing, and participating, in the American Dream as described in the delayed, but not denied, Declaration of Independence:

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness”

Most realize African Americans did not endure the struggle for freedom, equality, and respect alone. No doubt, there were white abolitionists during reconstruction who risked their lives and reputations for the cause of African Americans freedom. There were also white clergy and white citizens who marched with Martin Luther King for equality. The stench of racism only began to lessen as recent as the mid-1970’s, as schools, neighborhoods, the workforce, and athletics continued to integrate.


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RACE: The Elephant in the Room

Reminiscent of many African American firsts throughout history, there is no question that some of the resistance and protest to President Obama’s presidency is motivated by race. From Jack Johnson to Tiger Woods, African Americans have had to endured many forms of racial ridicule, whether through the denial of entry, or death threats, purely as a result of race for dare trying to challenge the white establishment, or status quo.

Who can forget the pressures and struggles Jackie Robinson endured while breaking the color line in baseball. Or, the many death threats Hanks Aaron received while attempting to break Babe Ruth’s home run record. When Tiger woods was set to be the first African American tot win the Masters Golf Tournament, he received numerous death threats. And the list goes on. Many African American athletes on the brink of making history have stories of racial indifference toward their achievement, while enduring slurs and death threats. Therefore, how much more will the first African American President have to endure resistance, and ridicule from “fringe elements” who are purely motivated by race?

Also worth mentioning; during his early bid as a potential Democratic nominee for the Presidency of the United States, Barack Obama required extra security due to racist death threats because of his race.

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Tim Wise – Is Race a Factor in President Obama’s Presidency? (part 1)

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words

What is your opinion of the stereotypical images, and effigies, depicting President Obama in the media or at public rallies and town hall meetings? Are the images over the top racially? Do these images have anything to do with political ideological differences related to the issues? Or just plain racist?

Do you believe there are elements of racism, fringe or other wise, because President Obama is African American?

Left of Center

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Other images depicting or implying, President Obama

Race and Politics: Was President Carter Right?

Recently, former President Jimmy Carter suggested, “because Barack Obama is the nations first African American President, much of the resistance to his administration was due to race, and the inability of some to except a black man as being president”. President Carter attributed some of the anger, and confrontation, at town hall meetings, at so called Republican sponsored “Tea Parties”, and the most recent outburst, and breach of Congressional decorum, by South Carolina Representative Joe Wilson when he shouted out “You Lie!” during President Obama’s address on Health Care Reform to congress, to latent racism.

President Obama received nearly 53% of the American vote to become President, which means an overwhelming amount of white voters voted for Obama in order for him to win the nomination. Is this then an indicator that America is now a post-racial society? Or, could racism still lurk in a small remnant of the 47% who did not vote for him?

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President Carter – Is Race a Factor? (part 1)




President Carter – Is Race a Factor? (part 2)



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President Barack Obama Makes Historic Speech to America's Students

On September 8, 2009, President Barack Obama delivered a national address to the students of America. During this historic address, the president spoke directly to the nation's children and youth about persisting and succeeding in school. The president challenged students to work hard, set educational goals, and take responsibility for their learning.

Many schools across America denied students to hear the live address, in fears of the President's speech would somehow brainwash children politically. The speech was nothing of the sort, but simply motivational, moving and inspirational. Now you too can hear the speech in its entirety and judge for your self.



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Back-to-School Controversy over President Obama's Speech to Students. Politically Motivated?

Back-to-School Controversy: Many school districts across the country making a decision not to allow the President of the United States of America to address to school children. Are these decisions politically motivated?



Unless one is adverse to local, or national, news coverage, there has been a consorted effort by single party politics, both locally and nationally, to protest the national airing of President Obama’s speech to K-6 students.

Single party politics are urging parents to protest the airing of the Presidential Address on education by pulling children out of school on the day of the address sighting, “they want to avoid their children from being exposed to the rhetoric of a Socialist President’” These abashing statements are absurd, and politically motivated, to invoke an unfair public response, and influence entire school systems to cancel a Presidential Address on education.

As a parent, I am applaud and outraged, that single party politics and media driven propaganda, has influenced certain Schools to not air the live broadcast of President Obama’s speech on education to schools.

Parents of these schools are made up of various political party voters, all of who pay tax dollars into the School System. Partisan politics should not be allowed to dictate local school airing of the Presidential Address. Many past presidents have made a public address to school children without a protest that lead to a countywide, “blackout” based on the ridicules objections, and false biases, of single party politics.

I wonder if school districts across the country are prepared to deny all public officials, or politicians, from ever speaking to school’s in the future. Or, is this an offensive set aside for this particular President, for a particular single party agenda? Shameful!!!

There needs to be public outrage, and parental concerned, that there has already begun an indoctrination in the school system by single party politics, teaching our children that lies, false statements, and distortion is a means necessary when attempting to regain power and control. Reprehensible!!!

Left of Center

President Obama's Prepared Remarks on Education

Read the FACTS concerning President Obama's planned address to school children and a complete transcript of President Obama's prepared remarks on Education at:

www.whitehouse.gov/MediaResources/PreparedSchoolRemarks/

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