Teen Ink

While I'm not sure what your political views are as you never expressed them in the article, i will start by saying that i am a liberal/democrat and would've voted for Obama if I was of age. That being said, i agree with many of your points. It insults my political intelligence to parade Obamas victory as a racial victory when there is so much more importance to it than that. I didn't see nearly as many people expressing their joy about, say, the bans of stem-cell research being l... (more »)

 

You article was a bit insulting. I'm going to need for you to look at Obamas election as president in different eyes. Yes African-Americans went too far with his election. But you have to see it in an African-American's eyes, we went from slavery, getting whipped and controlled to having an African-American in the white house. That is an accomplishment, not a victory. Your article was good but you need to look at it in different eyes. Obama is trying to fix Bush's mess. I believe ... (more »)

 

Gradschoolgrl said...
Mar. 7 at 12:43 pm:

You raise some really insightful points, but then you confuse me with some generalizations that overstate the extent to which we live in a "land of equal opportunity." Just want you to consider this point you put out there: "In my experience, modern society is not discriminatory in its presentation of opportunity." Are you white? Might this be different for a person of color who has experienced racism and social discrimination? I encourage you to look at the racial demographi... (more »)

 

MountainGirl said...
Mar. 5 at 12:00 pm:

Your article is really well written. What do you think about the supreme court nomination of Sotomayor? Do you think it makes a difference that we have a supreme court justice who is Latina instead of another white male?

 

spontaneous09 said...
Mar. 2 at 9:26 pm:

I see how you think on some things. Yeah, you should not assume that just because Obama was elected that there will be no racial inequality or that things wll be completely different.
But, an African-American being elected to the White House is a wonderful achievement for all minorities. To hear people say that you can achieve anything but never see anyone who's done it who looks like you can be discouraging to many. So, his election the White House signifies many things.

 

Aileen_P said...
Mar. 2 at 9:10 pm:

OMG! u r sooo rite. btw i remeber people freakin' out about him runnin' 4 president. they thought he was gonna force America to be Muslim and all this other crap that wasn't true. it was SOOOOOO annoying. i heard it at school all the time. u could always tell when someone was goin' to say something like that because their sentence would start with "i'm not racist but......"

 

XenonG said...
Mar. 2 at 1:41 pm:

exactly how i feel-good work :)

 

xAllegria said...
Mar. 2 at 2:54 am:

I see what your getting at and I kind of agree. The thing is the definition of 'discrimination' does not go as far for all people. Second, I also agree with rightbehindyou61: differences can be a good thing too. And third: I don't think Obama being black is the only reason for all the celebration of his election. He is an intelligent president and seeing it's his job to clean up Bush's mess, which has caused quite an impact, his actions will be followed closely.

 

edwardcullen4always said...
Feb. 27 at 11:18 am:

Omaba is not black he is mixed....but good article

 

scribblesinthecity said...
Feb. 26 at 12:14 am:

you make ai good point, but it seems to me that you have forgotten that our differences in culture are what make America; America. If we forget that, or consider celebrating it as racist-like you seem to, then we will certantly loose the essence of what makes each of us special, individual, unique americans. and as far as people celebrating out first black president- we celebrate not only him being African American and president, but that he is the first; and hopefully not the last. We are ackno... (more »)

 

spontaneous09 replied...
Mar. 2 at 9:28 pm :

I agree completely. And, just because you supported Obama or were completely behind McCain does not make you racist.

 

scribblesinthecity replied...
Mar. 5 at 8:47 pm :

exactly! and i also agree completely with the comment you left above.

 

I see your logic, however you make it sound as if we should ignore our differences. By that logic, if someone else likes country music, I should not even listen to that because that would be acknowledging that we are not the same. Our differences should be embraced, not shunned! If we ignore what makes us different from one another, our lives will quickly become monotonous.

 

crawfordkid said...
Feb. 8 at 9:42 pm:

A very nice and well-written article; I especially enjoy the refreshing change of hearing someone who has a good enough head on their shoulders to use logic and common sense in political discussions. A very nice article indeed!

 

krazyc1901 said...
Feb. 8 at 4:35 pm:

THANK YOU SO MUCH!

 

SharpestSatire said...
Feb. 8 at 1:08 pm:

SO GOOD. I agree. :)

 

Ellie_Michelle said...
Dec. 26, 2009 at 9:21 pm:

I totally agree! That's what I was thinking myself.

 

AnneOnnimous said...
Dec. 26, 2009 at 2:16 pm:

i disagree on one point- racism doesnt necessarily mean that you notice their race- you're not sexist if you notice someone's sex , its just a natural odservation. If you notice someone's race and do nothing about it and don't think any different about them because of it, they most certainly are not, as you said, racist!!

 

montana said...
Dec. 26, 2009 at 10:04 am:

u r right. Can you read my review and critigue it. Thx

 

Dandelion said...
Dec. 26, 2009 at 8:38 am:

Exactly what I've always thought! When I see a person of a different race, it doesn't even register in my mind that this person is any different that I am, or that I should support them for this reason. Well said!

 

as a fact, i just got back from posting on the topic of "is obama full of junk" and i see what you mean, as any presedent just because he is a ethnic poster boy doesn't mean he can make a few mistakes once in a while. this shows weakness, mortality, and i think we chose a canidate who can handle these reponsibilities.

 

Persona said...
Dec. 16, 2009 at 12:52 am:

Though I personally support Obama, I agree. I could not get over the fact that my Sign Language teacher would not shut up about my non-recognition of how important it was that a black man was elected, then chastising me as if supported McCain, when in face the opposite was true. One should support their politicians based on their policies, not their race, ethnicity, party, or religion.

 

*JustDance* said...
Dec. 4, 2009 at 11:39 pm:

I completely and totally agree. A lot of people just voted for him because he was black and they wanted an African-American president. I have no problem with having an African-American president, but the fact that they voted based on race and not his political views in my opinion is racist. People could be called sexist for not voting for Hilary Clinton, I think it's just stupid for people to see this as a sign that we're finally over racism as you pointed out.
People of all dif... (more »)

 

Miss_Bliss said...
Dec. 4, 2009 at 10:48 pm:

Though I've never really thought about it this way, I have to agree with you. Everyone (even me) is triumphant over having an African-American man as president at last, as, like you said, they (we) believe the US has overcome most racism and racist beliefs. But a) there are still acts of racism being committed every day (there were some pretty big ones reported right after the election), and b) America will only really be truly non-racist when we CAN, like you said, evaluate our new preside... (more »)

 

I agree completely with this article. (plus it's admirably well written, good job!) however, i totally see why people would celebrate that Obama is black anyways, because they are celebrating the progress we are making towards a discrimination free future. i mean, consider all of the things that Americans have done to their fellow Americans of different races the past several centuries... although some may applaud obama for the wrong reasons (like with what you said of people saying he'... (more »)

 

Abby:) said...
Dec. 4, 2009 at 9:57 pm:

I agree to some degree. I mean, its true that we shouldn't think that since Obama is here, racism is gone. And we probably should focus more on what he is going to do for America's future. But this is a big step of progress towards a discrimination-free future. Emphasizing this step is not a form of racism, but the acknowledgement of it, and a celebration that we are really making advancements. Black people used to tell their children that "they can be anything, but President.&quo... (more »)

 

alex9426 said...
Dec. 4, 2009 at 9:37 pm:

i absolutely agree. i consider myself a moderate republican and am not in favor of what obama has done so far. but if i criticize him, does that make me racist?? of course not. it's just as silly to say that you hate white people if you don't like bush. thanks for writing this.

 

izz123 said...
Dec. 4, 2009 at 2:29 pm:

Discrimination is "treatment or consideration of, or making a distinction in favor of or against, a person or thing based on the group, class, or category to which that person or thing belongs rather than on individual merit:" while racism is "a belief or doctrine that inherent differences among the various human races determine cultural or individual achievement, usually involving the idea that one's own race is superior and has the right to rule others."
I kind o... (more »)

 

Tashie said...
Dec. 4, 2009 at 1:48 pm:

Very valid. The whole election was boistered on not being racist, on seeing past color, but every article in the newspaper proclaimed African American. If supporters of Obama can't see past his skin color, then how can they expect others too? It's like the Nobel Prize, part of me feels that he was awarded that due to skin color. I applaude what he stands for and the direction he wants to take America in, but my views are educated, researched and based on his prior actions, not the way ... (more »)

 

E.L.W. said...
Nov. 21, 2009 at 12:59 pm:

Very good article -- and I love the point being made. We have all black colleges which many applaude, but if there was an all white college nowadays there would be an uproar. Racism goes both ways.

 

scribblesinthecity replied...
Mar. 10 at 7:14 pm :

but heres the thing: look at the average high-end college in america (like Harvard for example), how many African-american students do you see? not many, or at least much less that the number of white students. the percentage of African American college enrollment is still much much lower that that of white Americans (im pretty sure its about 12% for black people, 75 % for whites. but i cant say those are the exact numbers). So in a way, im sure many black kids look at colleges like Harvard and ... (more »)

 

This article really made me think. Part of me agrees and the other doesn't. I'll be thinking about this writing for a while, but good job.

 

firstsnowfalls said...
Nov. 12, 2009 at 6:19 pm:

I can kind of hear what you are saying but I don't believe it is for the right reasons. If racism is so nonexistent in this country, then why has their never been a black president before now? Are African Americans less smart, less qualified? No. Are women inferior to men? No. But somehow, this is our first black president and no females yet to speak of. I agree that we should look at candidates for what they bring to the table, not their color. But this is still an amazing point in... (more »)

 

scribblesinthecity replied...
Mar. 5 at 8:50 pm :

all i can say in response to your comment is: ur absolutely correct! thank you for writing this

 

it raises the question... was Obama elected in spite of his color or because of it?

 

EcoWriter3 said...
Oct. 21, 2009 at 4:48 pm:

Beautifully written. I agree that we should not judge Obama by his race or skin color, but how well he performs his duty.

 

GirlWithWings56 said...
Oct. 21, 2009 at 4:20 pm:

Good article. First of all, I see your point. Second of all, I somewhat disagree with it. You say it shouldn't be a triumph and we shouldn't be so excited that we have the first black president, but we are. the fact is, the US is an extremely biased and racist country and it IS a triumph to have the first black president, because the US history is full of bigotry and prejudice and the fact that the American citizens have elected a black leader is astounding. And yes, just because he is... (more »)

 

PurpleFeather said...
Oct. 21, 2009 at 2:08 pm:

there was alot i agreed w?in this article, and a lot i didn't. yes, its true that we must judge PRESIDENT Obama for his political actions, not just his race. yes, there is still discrimination in the us. yes, race shouldn't matter.
BUT, the truth is, race still does matter. it does. and just because ppl consider President Obama's victory to be a victory for blacks, doesn't make them all racists. it IS a big deal for African-Amercians. there are people in my family who ... (more »)

 

I agree. It's nice to finally have a black president (when i was in like second grade and i first saw a bord w/ all the presidents i wondered why they all look the same) but, if he was an awful presentent, it would be awful. A black president is a good thing, but he has to be good at the job two. I don't know for sure yet but i think he is.

 

firstsnowfalls replied...
Nov. 12, 2009 at 6:31 pm :

:) haha i hear ya about the presidents all looking the same. why is it that theyre all white, old, males?

 

lauren2323 replied...
Dec. 4, 2009 at 12:29 am :

They're all old white males because you A) have to be at least 35 to be president B) have to be credible as a politician for people to even consider electing you C) Have to have been born in the U.S. and D) Old rich white politicians generally tend to fit the bill for presidential requirements. Not saying Obama should have been elected. I don't care what color he is as long as he does his job.

 

firstsnowfalls replied...
Dec. 4, 2009 at 5:35 pm :

Ahem. Then why are no females acceptable?

 

lauren2323 replied...
Dec. 5, 2009 at 11:50 am :

Because the stodgy old men get there first =P

 

said...
Oct. 21, 2009 at 10:57 am:

This is so true. How many people voted for Obama just because he's black? Why do we even care that he's the first black president? It shouldn't matter! We should be focussing on his actions, not on his skin color. Isn't that what we've been taught since second grade?

 

ClearlyDamnDecent said...
Sept. 29, 2009 at 12:54 pm:

Great Article with well made points.Have to disagree with you though. I am not aware what your race is but let me assure that to not champion Obama;s success as a memento of the progress made would be amiss. For those of us in the younger generation a black president isn't really a big deal but for those alive 40 years ago t is so important to demonstate the progress from not allowing a man to handle a bank account we can allow someone to assume control of the Nucelur codes, thats a huge st... (more »)

 

i very much agree with you. people have told me that whoever doesnt like obama is racist and doesnt like having a black president. he wont make a better or worse president depending on his skin coloring, all that matters are his actions. great article!

 

Rockerray101 said...
Jul. 11, 2009 at 3:52 pm:

I hate racism. My dad is African-American and we have got lots of horrrible looks and have been treated badly. Whats is the big deal with skin color? We are all equal!

 

Sunshineyday said...
Jun. 27, 2009 at 3:56 am:

I was an Obama supporter, and I was a little mad that people were making such big "first black president" hype because it did strike me as racially divisive, although, his election DID tear down an unfortunately long-standing racial barrier. Bieng the first black president is impressive, but we should judge him by his PERFORMANCE as our leader, this is coming from a kid who was an adamant supporter, who dragged her whole family to the polls.

 

Wow. This is a great article. I had the same belief but for some reason never associated it with your topic. This article was like a mental bridge for me. Thank you.

 

blondie101 said...
Jun. 13, 2009 at 9:22 pm:

i TOTALLY agree! thanks so much for writing this, because it is sooo true. i think its cool that we have a black president, but we dont choose leader by race or religion. and i believe this is what happened during the elections.
anyway, i agree with you completely. thanks again for writing this! it was AMAZING!:D keep up the great work and keep sharing! cant wait to read more!!!:D