Does the Barack Obama presidency in the United States signify the end of racial discrimination?
December 18, 2008 by grteadmin
Does the Barack Obama presidency in the United States signify the end of racial discrimination?
It took centuries for the transatlantic slave trade to be abolished. Similarly, it took centuries for the colonies to achieve political independence. It took decades for an African, Kofi Annan, to become the UN Secretary General. It has taken centuries for An African American, Barack Obama, to become President of the United States of America. Racial equality is one of the tenets of the fundamental rights enshrined in the UN Declaration. This is in response to some of the grotesque aspects of human history that have necessitated a struggle for racial equality, although human beings are meant to be equal. Theories and hypothesis were manufactured to underpin and justify superiority and inferiority complexes and mindsets that continue to be an obstacle to human development. For many therefore, it was an improbability for an African American to be elected to the leadership position of President of the United States of America. Some have actually attempted to bet on a possible [God forbid] assassination because they are unable to liberate themselves from deep-seated thoughts of bigotry and racial inequality.
Further, there is the increasing perspective that race no longer matters as a primary equality consideration and that with the Obama presidency, racial equality efforts including positive action, affirmative action have become redundant. This is regardless of the fact that available statistics on disadvantage point to the contrary. Do you think racial discrimination is still an issue in policy and strategic matters as well as in practical terms, or is it a reflection of the deficits in human civilisation?
