Abstract
In the 1950s, Franz Fanon boldly asserted: "There is a fact: White men consider themselves superior to black men." Over five decades later, a majority of white Americans would deny this, but such heartfelt denials are often betrayed by social realities. The difficulties many African Americans experience in their private lives because of their racial identities became a topic of public debate during the course of Barack Obama' s historic candidacy for President of the United States. Then-Senator Obama was largely dismissive of the racism directed toward him during his campaign, and often refused to combat it in a straightforward manner. Angela Harris noted, before President Obama's victory, that he was "able to appeal to both white and African-American audiences" on account of his racially ambiguous appearance. Obama's transcendence of race was likely a key ingredient to his victory. While Senator Obama's successful candidacy demonstrates progress for African Americans in the United States, it is troubling that he had to become ambiguous in his stance on the racism he faced during his campaign in order to remain politically viable.
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2009
Recommended Citation
Marissa Jackson Sow, Neo-Colonialism, Same Old Racism: A Critical Analysis of the United States' Shift toward Colorblindness as a Tool for the Protection of the American Colonial Empire and White Supremacy, 11 Berkeley J. Afr.-Am. L. & Pol'y 156 (2009).
