Less than two weeks before an election that could install the first Black U.S. president, racial incidents have reflected a residue of hatred from a past generation among some segments of White America. A few examples include a cardboard likeness of Senator Barack Obama was found strung from fishing wire at a university (a fine example of higher learning), the Democratic presidential nominee's face was depicted on mock food stamps, the body of a black bear was left at another university with Obama posters attached to it.
The news media would have us believe that the incidents are irregular and isolated, but they stirred up memories of the violent racial past of a country where segregation and lynchings only ended within the last 50 years. And some have feared that Senator Obama could be a target for people who reject him on racial grounds alone.
The head of the Southern Poverty Law Center, which monitors hate groups, recently said many Whites feel they are losing their country right before their eyes. And feels what we are seeing is only the beginning of a real backlash. Many racist see the rise of minority rights, gay rights, and women’s rights as a threat to the world they grew up in and that their parents grew up in. And now they see a Black man who is very close to becoming president of the United States. They see it as a symbol the end of the world as they know it.
The latest incident occurred on Monday when the body of bear cub was found on the campus of Western Carolina University in North Carolina. Obama campaign signs were placed around the dead animal's head. And par for the course school officials said it was a prank. Earlier a cardboard likeness of Obama was strung up with fishing wire from a tree at a university in Oregon and an Ohio man hung a figure bearing an Obama sign from a tree in his yard. The man told local media he didn't want to see an African-American running the country. Why is this not a hate crime and why is this man not being prosecuted?
Racism in the 21st Century remains the most burning social problem in the U.S. It had taken on more subtle forms than the lynchings and mob violence seen decades ago in some parts of the country. But when we see the things going on daily we know that overt racism was just hiding under cover. As we get closer to the election the rest of the world will see the true character of the U.S. – whether good or bad we will all see.
In California, a Republican group said it intended no racial overtone when its October newsletter depicted a fake food stamp bearing a likeness of Senator Obama's head on a donkey's body surrounded by fried chicken, watermelon and other images evoking insulting stereotypes about Black Americans. A derogatory billboard in West Plains, Missouri, went up last month showing a caricature of Senator Obama wearing a turban.
We as Black people can protest and complain until we are old and gray, but this crap will only stop when this kind of stuff is fully prosecuted as hate crimes AND other White people stand up and stop just shaking their heads. Oh yes, and another thing that could speed up the eradication of racism would be to have a charismatic, inspirational, transformational Black president. Senator Obama leads Senator McCain in polls ahead of the November 4 election and has a big following in many sections of Americans, from liberals to conservatives, Black, White, Brown, Red and Yellow, rich and poor, old and young.
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