A More Perfect Union? Maybe

On March 18, 2008, then-Presidential candidate, Barack Obama gave a speech in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It has come to be known as his “A More Perfect Union” speech, and focuses upon the status of race relations in the U.S.

One of his points was that both major races in this country, the whites and blacks, harbor longstanding resentments against one another, and that this is counterproductive to a harmonious solution. I certainly believe that these resentments on both sides are valid. As he indicates, blacks have been the victims of “legalized discrimination” for decades (2008, ¶ 29). Our Constitution recognized slavery as a sanctioned practice, and assigned slaves the notation of being worth three/fifths of a white citizen for the purpose of assigning Representatives to the House on a state-to-state basis. These slaves had no rights, and yet their owners benefited in Congressional representation by owning them.

Even after slavery was abolished in 1865, a formal segregation still existed between the two races; blacks were forced to use separate entrances to certain public places, and excluded completely from many establishments such as restaurants, stores, and, yes, even churches.

Caucasians have certain valid complaints against Affirmative Action, for instance, which favored minorities in the 1980’s in their acceptance in universities, public service and other jobs hiring. This “reverse prejudice” was meant to make amends to a degree for past injustices; but it certainly did not achieve the desired effect overall, and contributed to more resentment between the races.

Whites have also felt that blacks, playing the role of victims, have abused the welfare system and excused violent and criminal behavior, as being the result of longterm abuse and mistreatment by white society.

These resentments are truly counterproductive because they are self-perpetuating. Until the finger-pointing stops, there will be no moving ahead. The two groups must stop focusing on who is responsible, and try to proceed to a resolution of these issues.

In quoting Faulkner (¶ 27), Obama reminds us that the past is not really past, meaning that the issues of yesteryear have never really been resolved. Though blacks have been given increasingly equalizing rights and opportunities through legislation, there is still a rift of trust, cultural similarities and cooperation between the two groups. The Ku Klux Klan is still open for business in many southern states, and many inner-city blacks still refer to “whitey” and “the Man.”
I do not believe that a trans-racial society is highly likely. I think cultural differences are two ingrained to allow for adaptation. There is too much of a competitive nature among the cultures to allow for a sublimation of one’ culture for another.

I also have to say the unpopular thing in that I do not believe it would necessarily be a good thing for us to become “trans-racial.” I think that to become a central entity, we would have to become an aggregate of all entities, and then find a mid-level existence. In other words, we would have to lose many of the lowest qualities and highest qualities of each culture, and so transform into a mediocrity. Sorry, but I “call ‘em like I see ‘em.”




References
Obama, B. (2008). Transcript: Barack Obama’s speech on race. NPR. Retrieved June 11, 2010, from http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=88478467