← Back to Vol. 02 Issue No. 02 — April
Abstract
“The history of America has been closely pegged with racism and discrimination against African Americans. It’s an issue the founding fathers struggled to address in the early stage of the great nation and, as a result, it has continued to haunt our society during slavery, Jim Crow’s segregation, and modern day legalized and systematic racism. Since the inception of America, the house of democracy has been plagued with cracks of racism and discrimination against African Americans, women and other minority groups. During the last 300 years we have made little attempt to fix these cracks and, as a result, have struggled with a defective foundation. In the 21st century there are still many facets of oppression that not only exist but are prevalent in American society. Thus, here lies the problem of why race still matters in America.” “I wish I could say that racism and prejudice were only distant memories. We must dissent from the indifference. We must dissent from the apathy. We must dissent from the fear, the hatred and the mistrust…We must dissent because America can do better, because America has no choice but to do better.” Thurgood Marshall Recent discussions on race and America’s post racial society has left a silence gap in one of most debatable topics to emerge in the 21st century; that is, post racial America in the age of President Barack Obama. This debate has neither materialized nor even blossomed. Race and racism continue to be significant factors as we delve into the deep waters of race in America. As we dawn into the second phase of Obama’s presidency several important questions continue to haunt our society. Race and politics are alive and well in America and the fact that we are not living in a post racial era continues to be a major disappointment in our society. “Can’t Legislate Morality” coined by the late senator and presidential candidate Barry Goldwater, remains a message that is lost in today’s society. Despite the passing of several important civil rights legislations, it’s still imbedded in our conscious to discriminate against African Americans and other minority groups. The American racist mind frame cannot be changed, the idea that America in the post-Obama presidency would become the melting pot that we are constantly reminded of, and often embrace, remains a distant dream.