In her article “Black President, Double Standard: Why White Liberals Are Abandoning Obama,” author Melissa Harris-Perry focuses on electoral racism in U.S. politics and the significance of the election of U.S. President Barack Obama in 2012. The discussed topics include how African American leaders are held to a higher standard than white leaders and are often scrutinized on their public policy decisions. A comparison of the presidencies of former U.S. President Bill Clinton and U.S. President Obama is provided. Also included are statistical information which provide data on the unemployment rate during the term of both presidents and their polls on the reelection. The article offers additional information on the comparison of Obama with Clinton in regard to the current president’s chances for the presidential reelection in 2012. The author believes that the decline in support for Obama from white Americans could reflect in 2012 reelection, thereby indicating how subtle racism plays a decisive role on Obama’s performance as president.
In reviewing the article, it is clear that speculation about the connection between Barack Obama's rise to the presidency and racial trend in the United States was widespread before and after his winning campaign. Obama’s political career further illustrates this segregation by serving as a reminder of the significant role of African-American political leader in U.S. culture. It is the same role that established supreme political and ethical significance in the era of civil rights movement. The leadership role that African-American politicians can opt for reminds of the rich political tradition President Obama has adopted as an African-American. It also reminds us of the adversities as well as criticism that set in when Obama tries to blend it with the general political culture in the United States. It is yet to be seen though whether Obama will be successful in his attempt. Furthermore, it needs to be kept in mind that although Obama’s period of rise to presidency suggested the decline of racial bias in the United States, his tenure as president reinforces the idea that the nation is far from being done with race.
Work Cited
Harris-Perry, Melissa. "Black President, Double Standard: Why White Liberals Are
Abandoning Obama | The Nation." The Nation, 21 Sept. 2011. Web. 23 June 2012.
<http://www.thenation.com/article/163544/black-president-double-standard-why-white-
liberals-are-abandoning-obama>.
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