“Hang That Darky From A Tree”*
The title seems like language that has long been retired from the American dialogue, but this statement was made to Obama supporter while she was campaigning for the Senator in Pennsylvania. This is a mind set that is alive and well all over our great country. Some white people will never feel comfortable with the idea of a black man in the White House. Some of the Pennsylvania voters said ” white people look out for white people, and black people look out for black people.” Fortunately not all white people share this limited view. If that was the case Sen. Obama would not be positioned to be the democratic nominee. He has successfully put together a coalition of people of all races. He has not transcended race as some have suggested. He is a black man and it is difficult for some people to see a black person as an authority figure. My husband is an Ivy League graduate who has had several management positions throughout his career. He is also unusually tall and he was once in a store surveying the facility when an elderly white man walked up to him and extended his hand to shake. My husband obliged him and the man said with a twinkle in his eye, “this is the first time I ever looked up to a black man.” He thought this was hilarious, but the reality is some people will never change. They will always look down on people of different races. In a campaign one can not use all their efforts on the ones that will not change, but they must put their energy in the ones that can see race but have the capacity to see more.
*Washington Post, May 13, 2008
