I have read more articles that have to do with the subtle bigotry that Obama faces than I can count. Problem is they don't call it for what it is; most continue to write that voters don't feel like they know Obama. Being raised in Texas, lets face it which is more south than west and the further west or east you go the more southern it is, prejudice is something I grew up seeing even in the 70's and 80's. Though currently, I will say I don't hear as much of it here as I read about in the press. What is subtle bigotry? It is that prejudice that is shrouded in words like: "There is just something, I am just not comfortable, I don't know him." I am sure everyone has heard it from someone they have spoken to about Obama. I hear and I think okay you can't bring yourself to vote for Obama because he is black, but you don't want to admit it to me or yourself.
Why is this a problem? Well in my daily life how do I confront a fellow PTA member about it? I know what they mean even if they do not; but having spoken with them numerous times I am betting they do and just don't want to admit it. The bigger problem is in the press. They report it and don't call it what it is; half the time they don't even infer subtle prejudice. The main problem is they are excusing prejudice by writing "they just don't know" Obama. Excuse me, the voters know Obama and if they say "there is just something..I can't put my finger on it" it is because they are enlightened enough to know they are wrong. This is so much more damaging to Obama than the out and out racism of "I will not vote for a black man" because it justifies the feeling for those who are fighting their proclivities to not vote or vote for the white fellow, and they can say I am not like the person who is racist. But it is racist, just much more subtle and much more dangerous.
From Salon today:
That is, many of these white rural voters expressed a discomfort that may have more to do with unfamiliarity about the type of person Barack Obama is, rather than with direct concerns about his race...."He's just not someone I can personally relate to," explained Cathy Massingale, 33, of Cullowhee, N.C., a Democrat who first supported John Edwards this election, and then Hillary Clinton. "Obama just doesn't feel like someone who knows me." Massingale's husband is in the military, and she wants to see a withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq. But she said she remains undecided about Obama or McCain.
While the author does talk about all the whisper campaigns out there against Obama and she does quote clearly racists reasons for not voting for Obama; she does not call the above what it is: subtle bigotry. These are people whose values are the same as most of ours; people who WANT to be progressive. How do we reach them? Is is by ignoring the obvious and instituting code words? Or do we call a prejudice and prejudice and ask people to confront their own? I believe the latter at least where the press is concerned.
As an individual, I do not believe that saying "that is bigotry" to my neighbor, coworker or fellow committee member gets the job done. I continue to share my excitement and endorsement of Obama with them and give them reasons to not vote for McCain. I give them information. I give them an example of someone, just like them, who is voting for Obama, and I talk about hope for our children with them. My job as a citizen for Obama though is different than that of the press.
I believe that this election matters more to our country's future than any election in my lifetime. I wasn't sure when Kerry lost that we could survive 4 more years of Bush, still not sure if we have, but I know this time we can't survive 4 more years of the current farce we call the executive branch. We must stand up and fight, not the racism that would never vote for a black man; but the more subtle and dangerous kind, the kind that hides behind code words, out of the mouths of people who want to be progressive.