Race: America’s ‘Family Secret’

May 5, 2008 by WILLIAM KERN (Worldmeets.US)

The question of whether the Democrats are shooting themselves in the foot with the race issue is being hotly debated on both sides of the Atlantic.

Antoine Maurice writes for Switzerland’s Tribune De Geneve:

“Why is it such a struggle for Obama to get elected? The question of Blacks in the United States is the best kept secret in the American family. Forty years after President Johnson’s great campaign for civil rights, much about race relations has changed, but not the essence: the semi-condescending, semi-frightened, mostly disguised fear of African Americans by the White majority.”

In summing up what’s at stake in the Democratic primary race, Maurice writes:

“The outbreak of race in the debate lends itself to a rational argument about the fragility of the Black candidate. In the mind, these unspeakable racial divisions secretly lurk, and mark the campaign with a strong emotional impact. The debate constitutes a profound test for both Democratic candidates.”

By Antoine Maurice

Translated By Sandrine Ageorges

May 3, 2008

Tribune de Geneve – Switzerland – Original Article (French)

Why is it such a struggle for Obama to get elected? The question of Blacks in the United States is the best kept secret in the American family. Forty years after President Johnson’s great campaign for civil rights, much about race relations has changed, but not the essence: the semi-condescending, semi-frightened, mostly disguised fear of African Americans by the White majority.

The Black community has been shaped largely by a series of dramatic episodes, and it will soon commemorate the 50th anniversary of some of these events: The death of Martin Luther King, last great advocate for Black integration [40 years ago]; the assassination of two Kennedys [John and Robert - 40 years ago], the dawn of the campaign for civil rights, the birth of a Black middle class, the growth of inter-racial marriage, the advent of minority studies (Black history) in academia and minority participation in the arts.

In short, African Americans, who have built their unity based mostly on the way others view them, have experienced unprecedented economic and civic progress.

Barack Obama serves as an indicator of this spectacular progress, while at the same time he is confronting – despite himself – its incompleteness. His strategy thus far has been not to play the race card, but to present himself as the promoter of change in America, more committed to redressing income inequalities than the burden of racial inequity.

READ ON AT WORLDMEETS.US, along with continuing translated foreign press coverage of the U.S. elections.

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