The Future of Race Relations

What does the election of Barak Obama as our first black President mean for the future of race relations in this country?   Does it mean the government will sponsor more programs and spend more money to help black citizens who have faced years of discrimination?    Or does the election of a black American to the highest office in the land demonstrate there is no longer a need for special programs to help black citizens?  

Within hours after the results of the election had been announced, I was reading about and hearing from people who were saying blacks have no more excuses for failing to make economic progress and for failing to close the income gap between whites and blacks.    Many think Obama’s election proves that black men and women who are willing to get a good education and work hard now have the same opportunities as their white counterparts.   In fact, some argue that blacks actually have an advantage over whites because of affirmative action and diversity programs that have the effect of favoring black students or black candidates for a job over white students or white candidates with equal or better qualifications. 

Juan Williams, a black political analyst for National Public Radio and Fox News, wrote a column after the election that stated in part:   “The emphasis on racial threats and extortion-like demands—all aimed at maximizing white guilt as leverage for getting government and corporate money—has lost its moment.  How does anyone waste time on racial fantasies like reparations for slavery when there is a black man who earned his way into the White House.” 

Then there is the issue of designing Congressional and state legislative districts to ensure that blacks can be elected to public office.   The Wall Street Journal contained a guest column on November 11, 2008 bearing the headline “Racial Gerrymandering is Unnecessary.”     The column was co-authored by Abigail Thernstrom, a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute, and Stephan Thernstrom, a professor of history at Harvard University.    The column began with the following sentences:   “The conventional wisdom among voting-rights advocates and political scientists has been that whites will not vote for black candidates in significant numbers.   Hence the need for federal protection in the form of race-based districts that create safe black constituents where black candidates are sure to win.   But the myth of racist voters was destroyed by this year’s presidential election.”   The concluding paragraph of the column said:  “American voters have turned a racial corner.  The law should follow in their footsteps.” 

It is clear that Obama’s election as our first black President will forever change the debate over race relations.   On the one hand, those who want to continue or possibly even increase government programs designed to help black people now have a strong friend in the White House.    On the other hand, the election of our first black President demonstrates there are no more artificial barriers to black upward mobility. 

I am not an expert in the area of race relations, and I have no idea how all of this will shake out in the end.   I am optimistic, however, that Obama’s election will represent a major turning point for black Americans.   Most Americans seem to agree.    In a poll conducted the day after the election, the Gallop organization found that more than two-thirds of Americans say Obama’s election as President is either the most important advance for blacks in the past 100 years, or among the two or three most important such advances.   The poll also concluded that Americans are strongly optimistic about the state of race relations in the United States.    After Obama's victory, 67% of Americans think a solution to relations between blacks and whites will eventually be worked out, the highest value Gallup has measured on this question.   Further, seven out of ten Americans believe that race relations in this country will get at least a little better as a result of Obama's election, including 28% who say they will get a lot better. 

What can Obama do as President to improve race relations?     Here my observations for whatever they are worth: 

(1)    In my opinion, Obama already has done the most important thing he can do to help young black men and women.    He has demonstrated there are no barriers to what they can achieve.    Racism did not die with Obama’s election, and there is no doubt that blacks will still face discrimination.    Obama has shown, however, that these obstacles can be overcome with a good education, hard work, and determination.   

(2)    Obama can continuously encourage young black men and women to  assume personal responsibility for their lives and to rely on their own resourcefulness rather than the government for their future happiness and financial security.   It appears to me that many black leaders in the past have hurt rather than helped young black men and women by convincing them they are victims of discrimination and have little chance of success in a racist society.   The victim mentality has resulted in a lack of motivation and in too much dependence on government.   By his example and his statements, Obama can change the culture of victimhood and encourage young men and women to establish high goals for themselves. 

(3)    Although politicians love to talk about equal opportunity for all, there is nothing Obama or the government can do to guarantee that all citizens will have equal opportunities.  The government’s role should be to enact laws, which we already have, to prevent discrimination on the basis of race.    Unless the government decides to undertake the responsibility of raising every child from birth, there will always be examples of children who have far fewer opportunities and advantages than other children of the same age and race.  Obama’s two daughters, for example, will always have a huge advantage over black children born to an unwed single mother who does not have an education, who is unemployed or has a minimum-income job, and who does not share the same culture and values as the Obama’s.    Life is not fair.   It never will be. 

(4)    Neither Obama nor the government can guarantee economic equality even for those who are born with the same opportunities.    Some people are born with more intelligence or are willing to work harder and take more risks than others.  There are many examples of two children, either black or white, who are born in the same family and raised by the same parents but who do not share the same intelligence, work ethic, ambition, or determination.   One child may become a successful businessman or professional who makes a good income, and the other may become a low-income employee who barely makes enough to get by.   There is nothing the government can do to change the facts of life.   Our country will be doomed if we eliminate the rewards for hard work and risk taking in effort to achieve economic equality, which is an unattainable goal.   

(5)    The key to continued advancement for black people is education.    As I have previously written on this blog, I believe there are two simple ways to improve the quality of our public education system—more parental involvement and more competition.    The first solution requires action by parents.   More parents, especially minority and low income parents, need to take an active role in insisting that their children place a high priority on getting a good education.  Unfortunately, many inner city schools have little or no parental involvement.    The problem lies with the culture in some segments of our society.   Obama can play an important role in changing a culture that does not value education.    The second solution to improving the quality of public education requires action by the government.  The government needs to permit more competition in the public education system.   In the past, Obama has opposed voucher programs designed to give parents a choice over where their children can attend school.   I hope Obama will reconsider his position on school choice.   I believe school choice programs would increase the educational opportunities for young black men and women whose parents cannot afford private schools.