# Now that Obama is POTUS aren't black claims of being oppressed kind of hollow? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [November 5, 2008, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-obama-is-potus-arent-black-claims-of-being-oppressed-kind-of-hollow/471329 "2008-11-05T19:41:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Hostile\_Dialect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e495f1/32.png) [@Hostile\_Dialect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hostile_Dialect)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2008, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-obama-is-potus-arent-black-claims-of-being-oppressed-kind-of-hollow/471329/61 "2008-11-07T00:18:07Z")
> [@Justin\_Bailey](#): > > A few recent threads around here seemed to boil down to “It’s nice that y’all are about to elect a black man President, but this country is still as racist as it’s always been.” By “it’s always”, I’m pretty sure they mean “it would have”. Just having a half-black President doesn’t make the nation on a whole any less racist; it just proves that at least a 2% majority can overlook race for more important considerations, which we already knew. ---
**Author:** ![Caveat\_lector\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ea5d25/32.png) [@Caveat\_lector\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caveat_lector_1)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2008, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-obama-is-potus-arent-black-claims-of-being-oppressed-kind-of-hollow/471329/62 "2008-11-07T03:46:18Z")
> [@foolsguinea](#): > > I just want to say I’ve ignored this thread as too silly to bother with. > > A 52% vote for a black man doesn’t mean there’s no oppression of other blacks in this country, especially the parts that voted overwhelmingly against that man. Reality doesn’t work that way. Now I’m not saying that no one voted against Obama because he was black, but you have to be careful there as we really can’t know why people voted for McCain. I voted for McCain and I thought Obama’s blackness was a plus to his candidacy, but disagreed with him on an issue dear to me. To address the OP: I think oppression in this country is largely a passive thing caused by a history of active discrimination and so it won’t disappear overnight due to the monumental success of someone of that race. Also, we can’t take Obama’s success as a sign that all is well because, as far as I understand, he didn’t grow up in the environment of toxic poverty that far to many black children grow up in. Are things better now? Yes. However, if you think of racism like a pollutant this country is like a factory that has drastically scaled back on how much it has produced, but we still have to clean up all the residue that is left over from before. Also people can’t just declare or expect racism to vanish because a member of a group or even a group as a whole has obtained power. Like some people seem to expect/claim. For example I was once told to my face that I wouldn’t be hired for a teaching job because I was a white male. The students didn’t like white males you see… :rolleyes: Now it cannot be denied that white males have power in this county, yet racism/sexism can still exist and it can still harm members of the group. Now it didn’t harm me overmuch because I just mentally said ‘screw them’ and found a position at different school, but shrugging off such idiocy cannot be so easily done by everyone and can, even if it is a minority view, significantly harm members of a group. ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2008, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-obama-is-potus-arent-black-claims-of-being-oppressed-kind-of-hollow/471329/63 "2008-11-07T04:05:10Z")
> [@Hostile\_Dialect](#): > > By “it’s always”, I’m pretty sure they mean “it would have”. Just having a half-black President doesn’t make the nation on a whole any less racist; it just proves that at least a 2% majority can overlook race for more important considerations, which we already knew. I suppose you mean well, but what? Are we back to the “whoever doesn’t vote for Obama is racist” thing? You’re saying 48% of voters were racist because they didn’t vote for your guy? Have you ever heard of Republicans and Democrats? 52-48 isn’t uncommon. What is this half-black thing I keep hearing? Seriously, what is that about? Why does Obama always have to come with a half-black caveat? What does that mean? He looks all black to me. So what? ---
**Author:** ![Indistinguishable](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/90ced4/32.png) [@Indistinguishable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indistinguishable)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2008, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-obama-is-potus-arent-black-claims-of-being-oppressed-kind-of-hollow/471329/64 "2008-11-07T04:08:03Z")
“It would be facile to conclude from Obama’s election that racism is completely a thing of the past” ≠ “Everyone who didn’t vote for Obama was displaying racism” ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2008, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-obama-is-potus-arent-black-claims-of-being-oppressed-kind-of-hollow/471329/65 "2008-11-07T04:22:09Z")
> [@Kimstu](#): > > 😕 The fuck?? You think that just because America as a whole has become non-racist enough to elect a black (well, bi-racial) man as President, significant racism in this country no longer exists? > > Dude, let’s not get carried away here. Yes, anybody complaining “A black man could never be elected President in this racist country” has been conclusively shown to be wrong. But people complaining “Blacks are often discriminated against in America because of their race” are, alas, still right. More importantly, millions of African-Americans (by no means all of them) still suffer from a lot of problems which racism made, but which would persist for generations if racism vanished overnight and that were the only change. Let’s make sure it’s not. ---
**Author:** ![Hostile\_Dialect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e495f1/32.png) [@Hostile\_Dialect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hostile_Dialect)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2008, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-obama-is-potus-arent-black-claims-of-being-oppressed-kind-of-hollow/471329/66 "2008-11-07T04:29:25Z")
> [@Caveat lector](#): > > Now I’m not saying that no one voted against Obama because he was black, but you have to be careful there as we really can’t know why people voted for McCain. And only 45% of white people voted for Obama. We have no idea how many white people voted for McCain for racial reasons, but this election only proves that at least 45% of white people can overlook race in a Presidential election. Much more _did_ overlook race, of course, but that’s all we can prove, and it doesn’t say much. However, I agree with the rest of your post (except for the part about who you voted for, of course). ---
**Author:** ![Hostile\_Dialect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e495f1/32.png) [@Hostile\_Dialect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hostile_Dialect)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2008, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-obama-is-potus-arent-black-claims-of-being-oppressed-kind-of-hollow/471329/67 "2008-11-07T04:31:57Z")
> [@levdrakon](#): > > Are we back to the “whoever doesn’t vote for Obama is racist” thing? Nope. Try reading for comprehension: > [@Hostile Dialect](#): > > Just having a half-black President doesn’t make the nation on a whole any less racist; it **just proves** that **at least** a 2% majority can overlook race for more important considerations, which we already knew. > [@levdrakon](#): > > You’re saying 48% of voters were racist because they didn’t vote for your guy? You tell me. Am I saying that, or did you just pull it out of your ass? > [@levdrakon](#): > > Why does Obama always have to come with a half-black caveat? I suppose it would have been more meaningful for me to say “Just having a President doesn’t make the nation on a whole any less racist”? > [@levdrakon](#): > > He looks all black to me. So what? So nothing. Why do you ask? ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Carrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f0a364/32.png) [@Captain\_Carrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Carrot)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2008, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-obama-is-potus-arent-black-claims-of-being-oppressed-kind-of-hollow/471329/68 "2008-11-07T04:35:31Z")
> [@Justin\_Bailey](#): > > Also, the biggest movie star in the world is a black man. Who’s that? > [@Justin\_Bailey](#): > > Widespread racism has all but disappeared in this country and while there’s still a ways to go, ignoring all of that progress is idiotic. I submit that there are still large areas that are racist, but a lot of the work has been done. ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2008, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-obama-is-potus-arent-black-claims-of-being-oppressed-kind-of-hollow/471329/69 "2008-11-07T04:41:17Z")
> [@Hostile\_Dialect](#): > > So nothing. Why do you ask? You’re the one who feels the need to call him half-black. Are you ever going to explain why, or just keep typing question marks? ---
**Author:** ![MOIDALIZE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@MOIDALIZE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MOIDALIZE)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2008, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-obama-is-potus-arent-black-claims-of-being-oppressed-kind-of-hollow/471329/70 "2008-11-07T04:42:38Z")
I don’t believe racism and discrimination aren’t still issues for blacks in the U.S., but how come black leaders are always saying “There’s still A LOT of work to be done.” A lot? Really? I could buy “a moderate amount of work,” but “a lot?” You’re saying there hasn’t been significant progress? In any case, isn’t it more a matter of the older generation dying off than any sort of concerted societal effort? ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2008, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-obama-is-potus-arent-black-claims-of-being-oppressed-kind-of-hollow/471329/71 "2008-11-07T04:45:40Z")
Perhaps, **astro** , you should come to the Pit and read the thread about some of the racist comments people are hearing-if anything, it seems this election is bringing the jackasses out even MORE. Hell, go read what the Freepers have to say. ---
**Author:** ![Hostile\_Dialect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e495f1/32.png) [@Hostile\_Dialect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hostile_Dialect)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2008, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-obama-is-potus-arent-black-claims-of-being-oppressed-kind-of-hollow/471329/72 "2008-11-07T05:39:45Z")
> [@levdrakon](#): > > You’re the one who feels the need to call him half-black. Are you ever going to explain why, or just keep typing question marks? I don’t feel any need to call him half-black. I prefer to call him President. I suppose I’ve referred to him as both black and half-black when his genealogy has come up. I’m wondering why you care so much; it was just the nearest relevant adjective when I typed that statement. > [@MOIDALIZE](#): > > how come black leaders are always saying “There’s still A LOT of work to be done.” A lot? Really? I could buy “a moderate amount of work,” but “a lot?” You’re saying there hasn’t been significant progress? How did you make that connection? 😕 Those aren’t mutually exclusive. I think it’s fair to say that there’s been significant progress _and_ there’s a lot of work to be done. ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2008, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-obama-is-potus-arent-black-claims-of-being-oppressed-kind-of-hollow/471329/73 "2008-11-07T05:47:41Z")
> [@Hostile\_Dialect](#): > > I don’t feel any need to call him half-black. I prefer to call him President. I suppose I’ve referred to him as both black and half-black when his genealogy has come up. I’m wondering why you care so much; it was just the nearest relevant adjective when I typed that statement. I keep hearing “half-black.” I’m curious why Obama is the “half-black” president. It’s the “nearest relevant adjective” to you. Why? Not just you, but everyone who keeps saying “half-black.” ---
**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2008, 6:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-obama-is-potus-arent-black-claims-of-being-oppressed-kind-of-hollow/471329/74 "2008-11-07T06:57:11Z")
Headline from the Onion: [Black Man Given Nation’s Worst Job](http://www.theonion.com/content/news_briefs/black_man_given_nations). Apparently only one other person bothered applying for it. ---
**Author:** ![Bam\_Boo\_Gut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8c91f0/32.png) [@Bam\_Boo\_Gut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bam_Boo_Gut)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2008, 7:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-obama-is-potus-arent-black-claims-of-being-oppressed-kind-of-hollow/471329/75 "2008-11-07T07:02:50Z")
> [@levdrakon](#): > > I suppose you mean well, but what? Are we back to the “whoever doesn’t vote for Obama is racist” thing? You’re saying 48% of voters were racist because they didn’t vote for your guy? Have you ever heard of Republicans and Democrats? 52-48 isn’t uncommon. > > What is this half-black thing I keep hearing? Seriously, what is that about? Why does Obama always have to come with a half-black caveat? What does that mean? > > He looks all black to me. So what? Wasn’t his mother white? I saw the Irish were celebrating his Irish roots. ---
**Author:** ![Hostile\_Dialect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e495f1/32.png) [@Hostile\_Dialect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hostile_Dialect)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2008, 7:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-obama-is-potus-arent-black-claims-of-being-oppressed-kind-of-hollow/471329/76 "2008-11-07T07:32:37Z")
> [@levdrakon](#): > > I keep hearing “half-black.” I’m curious why Obama is the “half-black” president. It’s the “nearest relevant adjective” to you. Why? Not just you, but everyone who keeps saying “half-black.” It’s really not a big deal to me. Not nearly as big a deal as it is to you, apparently. ---
**Author:** ![jackdavinci](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackdavinci/32/3259_2.png) [@jackdavinci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackdavinci)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2008, 7:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-obama-is-potus-arent-black-claims-of-being-oppressed-kind-of-hollow/471329/77 "2008-11-07T07:47:13Z")
> [@astro](#): > > There’s a black POTUS. Don’t people trying to play the racial victim card look kind of silly from ths point forward? Sounds a little like a straw man. Who exactly is playing this ‘racial victim card’ and what is the exact nature of this phenomenon? ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2008, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-obama-is-potus-arent-black-claims-of-being-oppressed-kind-of-hollow/471329/78 "2008-11-07T14:00:19Z")
> [@Bam\_Boo\_Gut](#): > > Wasn’t his mother white? I saw the Irish were celebrating his Irish roots. What, you never heard of the black Irish? ---
**Author:** ![DianaG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7ab992/32.png) [@DianaG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DianaG)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2008, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-obama-is-potus-arent-black-claims-of-being-oppressed-kind-of-hollow/471329/79 "2008-11-07T14:10:40Z")
> [@jackdavinci](#): > > Sounds a little like a straw man. Who exactly is playing this ‘racial victim card’ and what is the exact nature of this phenomenon? Heh. As a friend of mine says… "Here’s my race card. The front says “Bitch…” the inside says “Please.” ---
**Author:** ![Nzinga\_Seated](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5ac83/32.png) [@Nzinga\_Seated](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nzinga_Seated)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2008, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-obama-is-potus-arent-black-claims-of-being-oppressed-kind-of-hollow/471329/80 "2008-11-07T15:15:12Z")
> [@levdrakon](#): > > I keep hearing “half-black.” I’m curious why Obama is the “half-black” president. It’s the “nearest relevant adjective” to you. Why? Not just you, but everyone who keeps saying “half-black.” levdrakon, I won’t speak for _you_, but I will admit this is a big deal for _me_. After reading his book, I realized it is a big deal to _him_. And of course it is. He is raised being considered black by every single eye that rests on him. All of a sudden, when he becomes absurdly successful he is half black? I don’t blame him for rejecting that silliness. I actually started a thread about this before. So yeah, it is a big deal for me. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-obama-is-potus-arent-black-claims-of-being-oppressed-kind-of-hollow/471329.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-obama-is-potus-arent-black-claims-of-being-oppressed-kind-of-hollow/471329.md?page=5)