# TV Series 24: Paving the Way for a African American President? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 6, 2008, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-series-24-paving-the-way-for-a-african-american-president/448232 "2008-05-06T01:35:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![elelle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f0a364/32.png) [@elelle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elelle)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2008, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-series-24-paving-the-way-for-a-african-american-president/448232/1 "2008-05-06T01:35:50Z")
I did a search, and didn’t see this brought up on the SD, but, am wondering. Did the character of [David Palmer](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Palmer_(character)): actor: Dennis Haysbert on the TV series “24”, help pave the way for acceptance of a Black President of the US? As an actor, he was excellent in that role, firm and astute, handling hard questions with aplomb, and deep voice control. Tremendous role model, and acting. Do you think that this TV show had an effect on acceptance to an African American President? ---
**Author:** ![Indistinguishable](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/90ced4/32.png) [@Indistinguishable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indistinguishable)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2008, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-series-24-paving-the-way-for-a-african-american-president/448232/2 "2008-05-06T01:42:06Z")
Um, no. Even ignoring the fact that he is far from the first black president on the screen, his presence is much more reflective of society’s existing attitudes than it is influential in changing them. (Also, what the hell? You think reluctance to elect a black president may have been founded in newly-allayed fears that African-Americans lack proper voice control or acting skills?) ---
**Author:** ![TWDuke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e495f1/32.png) [@TWDuke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TWDuke)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2008, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-series-24-paving-the-way-for-a-african-american-president/448232/3 "2008-05-06T01:49:42Z")
I’m going to vote no as well. For what it’s worth, NPR addressed the same question. > **[Has Hollywood Helped Pave Way for Obama?](https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=18580711)** > > Racial and gender barriers have already been broken at the White House — well, at least in Hollywood. But if voters have seen a black man as president on the screen, are they more likely to elect one in real life? And here are some lists: > **[The Top 7 Black Presidents From The Screen](https://www.gawker.com/358720/the-top-7-black-presidents-from-the-screen)** > > After yesterday's Wisconsin primary, a convincing win by Barack Obama in a largely white state, the prospect of a black Democratic nominee, and a black president, looks possible, even likely. And it only took 232 years! Of course, oh-so-progressive... [http://www.bet.com/entertainment/DVD/EntertainmentDVDFlipBlackPresidentsonFilm.htm?wbc\_purpose=Basic&WBCMODE=PresentationUnpublished](http://www.bet.com/entertainment/DVD/EntertainmentDVDFlipBlackPresidentsonFilm.htm?wbc_purpose=Basic&WBCMODE=PresentationUnpublished) ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2008, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-series-24-paving-the-way-for-a-african-american-president/448232/4 "2008-05-06T01:54:41Z")
Do you think a black president could get the vote in allstates? ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2008, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-series-24-paving-the-way-for-a-african-american-president/448232/5 "2008-05-06T02:15:40Z")
Absolutely not. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2008, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-series-24-paving-the-way-for-a-african-american-president/448232/6 "2008-05-06T02:22:01Z")
[QUOTE=Bryan Ekers] Do you think a black president could get the vote in allstates? [/QUOTE] Aw, _man._ But to the OP. Nah, I think most folks who watch 24 are gonna vote for McCain. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2008, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-series-24-paving-the-way-for-a-african-american-president/448232/7 "2008-05-06T03:38:13Z")
[QUOTE=Bryan Ekers] Do you think a black president could get the vote in allstates? [/QUOTE] Well, he’d certainly put America in good hands.