The race for the Democratic nomination is an interesting one. On one hand, you have Senator Clinton, wife of one of our favorite Democratic presidents who lead our nation during a time of economic prosperity and growth. On the other hand, you have Senator Obama, a true candidate for change, whom I believe will promote this change if given the opportunity to lead this nation. Clinton, we know, is a white person. Obama, of mixed ancestry, is considered a black man. Clinton has a great track record of working with black people (and others), but this is not because she knows, understands, and relates to what we go through, but simply because she pities the disadvantaged. The population at the biggest disadvantage in American society just happens to be blacks.
Although there aren't many who care to get into this, I have heard several white people say that they understand, or they can imagine what it's like to be black. However, nowadays, I just shake my head and try to tell them that they don't have a clue. To be able to identify with the issues that plague black communities, you have to do more than have a black best friend from your freshman year of college. You have to do more than have worked for a local Department of Human Services serving mainly blacks. You have to do more than have gone to elementary school with all black children. A main prerequisite to understanding the plight of the African-American is to actually be black-to be the real victim of these random acts of discrimination.
There are more disadvantages tossed at black people than what meets the eye. There are some forms of blatant racism, like southern America in the 1950's. But there is way more than this, as blacks are placed at disadvantages that extend beyond any of this surface stuff. Institutionalized racism affects black people like a deadly disease, a disease that there is no real solution to. As a college graduate pursuing a Master's, I'd like to share a brief version of my story.
My Story
I graduated from high school in 2001 and college in 2004. Upon graduating from college, I went back home, saddened because my Sociology degree didn't land me even the lowest-paying gig. Or so I thought. Later on after getting a professional position at a reputable company, I realized that most whites, even with the exact same degree, already had professional jobs and experience. Whites come from families of successful people who know other successful people, and we all know that in America, it's not what you know, but who you know, or more importantly who you are. A lot of my white colleagues had jobs awaiting them upon completion of their degree, and even if they hated the job, they seized the opportunity to gain professional experience-something that makes them more marketable as a potential employee-this propelling them past the average black college graduate who is still seeking their 1st decent entry-level job. So, we have white and blacks who could have the same academic background, competing for the same job. This will probably go to the person with some professional experience, of course. Is this not an effect of racism? Well maybe not racism, but being black in America…
Moving back to politics, I think Obama will set the stage and be a force to reckon with if chosen to lead the United States of America. With the education and professional background similar a traditional, white American politician-but the experiences of black people, being subjected to the ignorance, the drawing of invisible color lines, the blatant and the suppressed discrimination, his experiences are broad enough to represent us all well. He will not throw food stamps out to his people just because their children need food. He will not allow huge credit card companies to take advantage of us with hidden rates. He will think. He will relate. He will act based on knowledge from both sides of the spectrum.
America, here we go.
