Comments on: The End of Black Politics?

By: MJK

MJK — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 07:02:00 +0000

Elvin these are good points, thanks! We haven’t come close to solving the problem of race in America, but we are definitely making progress.

By: Elvin

Elvin — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 05:29:51 +0000

MJK, There has been progress regarding racial divide in America. However, there is still a matter of invisible institutions of racism. For example, African-American men's average jail sentences are 10 months longer than those of white men [for the same offenses]. ("State of Black America" Washingtonpost.com, Saturday, April 21, 2007; Page A16). It would be ambitious to say that we have resolved the problem on race in America.

By: MJK

MJK — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 01:27:25 +0000

Elvin, the fact that we have an incoming black President (as an example of how things have changed), how much longer in your opinion should affirmative action remain? If you were in charge, under what conditions would you end affirmative action? In my opinion, the time has come to at least start phasing out affirmative action based on race alone. Instead, we could consider some preferences based upon a person’s total background: economic, social, etc. But as this country moves further into the 21st century, traditional affirmative action is clearly antiquated.

By: Elvin

Elvin — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 06:16:51 +0000

Privilege awarded for racial reasons is hypocritical to the movement of equality. However, racism has been apart of America’s “hard wiring”, and the systemic discrimination in the institutions of America disallow homogenous social-economic conditions for people of ethnicity and White Americans. Just as a chemical imbalance in the body needs to be off-set by another chemical to restore homestasis in the body, so are policy and laws that would encourage the institutions of America to promote racial diversity.

By: MJK

MJK — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 15:55:42 +0000

Elvin, thanks for your comment! I generally agree with you, though I wouldn’t say that Obama wiped the floor with McCain on the issues — I think it it was style and that he on experience related-points, he kept up and often surpassed McCain. Anyhow, now that Obama will be President, do you think that affirmative action is still required, and if so, to what extent?

By: Elvin

Elvin — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 05:12:59 +0000

There has clearly been inequalities in America and a need for “affirmative action” policies, which are designed to reconcile the imbalances caused by racial discrimination in America. However, President elect Barack Obama did not begin his legacy with running on racial politics. He did not ask to be the next “black president” to make black history, but he motivated the hearts and minds of Americans to vote for him based on his ideals for a new America. Barack never denied his African-American culture, but he did not asked for any favors because of it. He wiped the floor with McCain through debating the issues. McCain political reflexes were shot, and he started to look like a desperate deflated fighter searching for a knockout punch. President Barack Obama was, pound for pound, the best politician in 2008(lol). He did not accomplish this through black politics. I think that it would be a disservice to his movement and America’s growth to continue racial politics.