Arizona Protesters Sing ‘Bye Bye, Black Sheep’ to Obama
Racial segregation’s stubborn endurance in public schools, neighborhoods and social activities remains at the heart of contemporary America’s political and cultural divisions. Race continues to be the third rail of national politics. Racial denial is both unfortunate and shortsighted. Our national failure to openly confront racial inequality 50 years after major civil rights legislation is crippling American democracy.
The president’s political strategy on race matters has been largely one of avoidance. Recent events, however, have overwhelmed this strategy. National demonstrations in the wake of the George Zimmerman verdict forced Obama to speak candidly about the black community’s anger over Trayvon Martin’s death. Obama’s willingness to discuss racism, civil rights and race relations during an impromptu address to the White House press marked one of the most important unscripted moments of his presidency.
But for many whites it confirmed their worst fears about Obama. The contemporary belief that to even broach the topic of race makes one a racist considers Obama’s comments about Trayvon to be divisive and inflammatory. Colorblind racism finds comfort in a dream world of racial denial, while offering no solutions for the real-world racial disparities that surround us.
More: Arizona Protesters Sing ‘Bye Bye, Black Sheep’ to Obama