We are at an unprecedented time in our nation’s history. The two potential democratic candidates for president are both minorities. There has been some debate among people of all races as to whether or not having a black presidential candidate squashes the racial debate. Additionally some have inquired as to whether or not having a female president will mean that woman’s rights activist can put down their picket signs. Many people feel that Democratic Candidates Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton are proof that America has come a long way in terms of gender and race relations. Some have even minimized the severity of racism and sexism in this country.
Is Barack Obama’s and Hillary Clinton’s nomination a sign of progress? Although a sign of forward thinking and a desire for change on the part of a nation has motivated people to the polls one cannot take this to mean that gender and racial disparity is non-existent. If one looks at the recent statistics in the Philadelphia Inquirer on racial disparity in our area, one can see that we have not come as far as we would like to think.
The comments by Governor Rendell about the likelihood of Barack Obama winning the Pennsylvania Primary help to reveal the mind-frame of many white conservatives in our state. "You've got conservative whites here, and I think there are some whites who are probably not ready to vote for an African-American candidate," Rendell told the editorial board of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette in remarks that appeared in last Tuesday's paper.
The wage gap among men and women in this country shows that there is still a need for more dialogue. There is still a large disparity between male and female salaries and opportunities. According to the Boston Globe, a female high school graduate will make about $700,000 less in her lifetime than her male counterpart. A college graduate will make $1.2 million less than her male counterpart will.
While we could possibly elect the country’s first female president, men and women are still not equal in the boardroom.
When one looks at the statistics on poverty and education among minorities in this country, it is easy to see that systematic racism still exists. Although the nomination of a black presidential candidate would be an outstanding moment in black history, we should not take this to mean that there still isn’t a need for change. Nor does the nomination of a female candidate suggest that progress isn’t needed in terms of women’s rights.
I am curious to see how the nomination of either candidate will affect the inequalities in our nation. However, as it stands now, we have a long way to go.
Is Barack Obama’s and Hillary Clinton’s nomination a sign of progress? Although a sign of forward thinking and a desire for change on the part of a nation has motivated people to the polls one cannot take this to mean that gender and racial disparity is non-existent. If one looks at the recent statistics in the Philadelphia Inquirer on racial disparity in our area, one can see that we have not come as far as we would like to think.
The comments by Governor Rendell about the likelihood of Barack Obama winning the Pennsylvania Primary help to reveal the mind-frame of many white conservatives in our state. "You've got conservative whites here, and I think there are some whites who are probably not ready to vote for an African-American candidate," Rendell told the editorial board of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette in remarks that appeared in last Tuesday's paper.
The wage gap among men and women in this country shows that there is still a need for more dialogue. There is still a large disparity between male and female salaries and opportunities. According to the Boston Globe, a female high school graduate will make about $700,000 less in her lifetime than her male counterpart. A college graduate will make $1.2 million less than her male counterpart will.
While we could possibly elect the country’s first female president, men and women are still not equal in the boardroom.
When one looks at the statistics on poverty and education among minorities in this country, it is easy to see that systematic racism still exists. Although the nomination of a black presidential candidate would be an outstanding moment in black history, we should not take this to mean that there still isn’t a need for change. Nor does the nomination of a female candidate suggest that progress isn’t needed in terms of women’s rights.
I am curious to see how the nomination of either candidate will affect the inequalities in our nation. However, as it stands now, we have a long way to go.
8 comments:
Even if one was president and the other was vice president, we can expect that same racism, sexism and ignorance that has existed for hundreds of years in this country. Just more subtle thats all.
One would have to agree with both comments. Racism has become so ingrained in our society that we cannot think that the election of a minority president will wash away the problems that exist in our society.
Even though I'm trying to focus on the issues, it's tough to ignore gender and race, especially when I see the candidates go at each other.
Beyond the back-and-forth between a white woman and a black man seeking the Democratic presidential nomination, the situation has created a snapshot of the nation's sensitivity — or lack thereof — to certain kinds of comments. Is it more acceptable, for instance, to make a sexist remark than a racist remark?
Racism, sexism and other forms of ignorance are a part of human existence. The election of an African American and a female president simply means that they don't have to be an impediment to progress. The selection symbolizes that with the good will of the majority of our people, we will overcome the narrow minded shallow thinking of the ignorant.
I believe that all isms are wrong. Its hard to say which is worse because it is all about the person affected.
Sexism is the least in my opinion. Racism has left deeper scars than sexism..........The world sells sex therefore sexism is a very valuable component in our society.
Sex sells.
This election in my opinion is about the quality of the candidates. Obama has garnered more of the female votes in states that he won and Hillary has garnered more Latino votes in states that she won.It is about quality for a change, vote for the best candidate who represents change from current administration.
Billy
This is the third time in my life that an African American has ran for the highest post of our country. Could you imagine the comments if an African American women decided to run for president? I believe it was 36 years ago an African American woman, Congresswoman Shirley Chisolm ran has our country really changed? I believed we're still the same sexist and racist country. It will only change if we can produce economic wealth in minority communities.
The two most important expressions of liberation to emerge from the American experience in the late 1960s are black liberation and feminist liberation. Unfortunately, an undeclared war is brewing between them.
Thereby these two expressions of the dominant social context of liberation have been set up to compete with each other.
The black caucuses, appearing a year or two earlier than the women’s groups, have generally denied reciprocal solidarity with the women’s movement. The second women’s movement, like the first, arose as women working for black liberation began to address the issues of their own liberation. Initially women analyzed their own oppression,comparing it to racism. Then, finding their own concern scorned by blacks, they withdrew in hurt alienation.
Are blacks correct in deriving complete unity with the women’s movement, and are feminists correct in comparing sexism to racism? I would argue that historically racism and sexism have been interrelated but not exactly ‘parallel."
Rather, they have been inter structural elements of oppression within the overarching system of domination by white males.
Moreover, this inter structuring has the effect of alienating all women (black, hispanic, white) and black men from each other. Each group tends to suppress the experience of its racial and/or sexual counterpart. The black movement constantly talks as though "blacks" means black males. The women’s movement fails to integrate the experience of poor and nonwhite women. Much of what it means by the "female experience" is in fact class-bound, restricted to the experience of a fairly atypical group of white, usually childless, women who are blocked in their efforts to break into the strong defense of white men.
I do agree with Billy, issues of race and sex aside, we need to vote for the best candidate. That is when our voice/opinion will truly be worth something, when are out there showing we've had enough of corruption and we're ready for something good, be it a black man, white woman, etc.
Why even develop a hierarchy when it comes to oppression? Either way they are wrong across the board. I find it interesting that people receive some satisfaction from minimizing the pain and suffering of others and trumpeting their own trials. Sexism and racism sells. Systematic racism has enabled whites to suceed in our economic system and brain washed millions to believe that only a blond haired blue eyed person is acceptable. And sexism has made millions believe that woman are nothing more than sex objects. Either way ITS WRONG!
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