This article is an illogical and often offensive look at the candidacy of President-elect Barack Obama.
From the headline to the last line, the article sets up the false premise that people cannot see past racial distinctions, and that Americans, members of one of the world's most pluralistic societies, retain a black-white mentality regarding race.
A key question posed is, "What does it take for a person in the United States to be a 'white', and thus enjoy the full rights and privileges of a U.S. citizen?" One assumption inherent in this question is clear to even a cavalier reader: Citizens' rights, in America, are limited to whites alone.
Not only is this assumption patently false in legislative terms -- the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights, along with the Civil Rights Act and other federal and state anti-discrimination bills ensure the freedoms of all U.S. citizens -- but also in actual terms.
Racial discrimination exists in the United States; some argue persuasively that it is institutionalized (a claim that is actually rejected by the article). The point is not whether individual U.S. citizens hold racist views, but whether whites alone "enjoy the full rights and privileges" accorded to U.S. citizens.
All U.S. citizens enjoy the same rights and privileges; but certainly race -- among many other factors -- may restrict the opportunities afforded individual U.S. citizens.
Obama won in spite of his race, which is why a pluralistic American public is rejoicing together. The idea that a man named Barack Hussein Obama could win the presidency of the United States -- a man who is not white -- it is an amazing thing.
It is a victory that would have been impossible even 20 years ago. Obama's race is significant, because it reveals that the majority of Americans vote with their minds and their hearts, not with some racial prejudice.
Of course racism exists in America; it exists everywhere.
ADAM CARTER
Jakarta
This is a good and interesting perspective. My only comment is that in U.S. literature (and law), Americans have usually considered anyone with even one black ancestor to be non-white.
The profound novels of William Faulkner explore the guilt and psyche of "closet blacks", i.e., people who appear white, but actually are "hidden blacks" because they have a "black" great grandparent (for example).
One response to this myth of racial purity is to proudly assert your racial identity as black (i.e., non-white) and identify with the group that is subject to prejudice no matter what color is your skin.
In that context, to say Obama is a black president is not necessarily racist, but rather liberating. Biologically, the article is correct: Obama is half-white, half-black. But socially he is black, in the context of American society.
In an ideal world we may indeed dream of a time when a person is judged by their character rather than their skin color. But we are far from that world. Race is socially constructed and affects most people's perceptions.
We may ideally wish to deny that race (or religion) matters, but at least a step on the way is to acknowledge that someone from a socially constructed "inferior group" may be our best hope for leadership.
When will Indonesia elect a black president who is from West Papua? If she were also a Christian, it would be as if the U.S. chose a woman, black, Muslim president.
BERNARD ADENEY-RISAKOTTA
Salatiga, Central Java
The writer is so correct. If only the American media would be this truthful and stop saying he is the first black president and give him his correct identity.
Our country could be so much better if we could get past whether the president is white, black, Hispanic, Asian, Republican, Democrat, man or woman and focus on what the person has to say and what their ideas are!
We should do what is best for the populace no matter who came up with the plans or agenda. Gender and race are actually not important in the realm of things. But you cannot get the dumb masses to see this because they watch too much reality TV. You should not watch TV two weeks before voting. Thank you for speaking the truth!
DAVID JOHNSON
Jakarta
