Will A New Sense Of Respect (From Whites & Others Toward Blacks) Be One Result

from this election?

i certainly hope so.

maybe with some it will make them resentful or more resentful, but in general--with people who are not extreme racists, i wonder if there will be more respect given to the black community. or even to all people of color.

or will this election not make a difference in how everyone thinks of/perceives people of different racial groups?

Among racists there will come more acceptance. Among blacks pride and vindication. And largely, I think, the racial lines will blur and start to disappear more.

but for the racists among us I fear it may rely upon the degree to which President Obama is able to deal effectively with a very, very difficult situation...we need to be realistic in our expectations, and very, very supportive in our actions.

On edit: as an aside to Flabbergasted's observations: I suspect the degree to which the white establishment is perceived as working to assist, or hinder, President Obama's efforts will effect African-American attitudes.

Think about your question. Why it is assumed that Black people need to obtain respect from White people and others. I think that people of color should never have to work for the respect of others any more than Whites should have to work to be accepted by us people of color. That being said, I think that Obama will serve to make it less of an issue for a person of color to assume a position of ultimate power.

I think Chris Rock said it well when he talked about where he lives. Chris is one of the most popular, hottest comedians around. He lives in a very upscale neighborhood. His neighbors are Quincy Jones (arguably one of the best producers/artists around) and I believe Beyonce.... and a White dentist. Not the best dentist in the world just a well paid white dentist. Think about that for a bit.

i certainly don't feel that way.

i don't think i said anyone needs to obtain respect from anyone actually.

i'm wondering if more respect will be given.

you think about my question. and read it again.

and if you think for one second i'm referring to famous rich people you are missing the ENTIRE point

Does a white president inspire more respect for all White people? Why would there be a difference?

And the reference to Chris Rock was meant to illustrate that in order to achieve parity, people of color have had to excel while our white brethren get there by just being "pretty good". When we conquer that attitude, then we will really have arrived at true equality.

i expect (but i'm not positive) a difference in attitude of some people i know who are...racist--people who view non-whites in an extremely negative way, and view them through eyes that see people with negative racial stereotypes.

i'm hoping for a difference.

years ago i was involved with a social psychology study that was specifically geared to test/measure racial prejudice in whites toward blacks.

one finding in this study was that when whites viewed equal status, equally dependent relationships between a black and white man (or between a black and white woman) their prejudice level did not increase. but when whites viewed equal status, equally dependent relationships between two white men or two white women then their prejudice level went up--and the difference was statistically significant.

now, because we have this man who is about to become president and about to be put into a category of top status--a position of the most powerful man in the country--a place that, generally speaking, is highly revered--and because he is the first black american who will have ever held this position, and because it is a historical moment because of his racial make-up, i am wondering if there will be some sort of psychological effect that will break down and break apart some of the negative stereotyping that some people have and will provide a path toward more open-mindedness and acceptance, thus respect.

i'm really tired. i'm probably not expressing myself well with this post either. sorry.

spoke to voters arriving at and leaving a polling place located in a church in a predominantly African-American area. As one young man left the polling place area, I asked him whether he had encountered any problems voting. He was clearly thrilled to have cast his vote. I said to him, "This is a momentous day." He turned and looked wistfully back at the church and said with awe, "This isn't about race. Is it?"

I sensed that his whole view of the world and his place in it had changed the moment he cast his vote.

Part of Obama's magic is that he recognized before any of the rest of us that it isn't about race. It never really was. Obama's election by such a large margin not only frees African-Americans from the fear that they are limited by their race, but also white Americans from the fear that they will be ostracized if they act and think as though it isn't about race.

But the fact is, it really isn't about race. It never was. Segments of our society just persuaded themselves that race mattered because they did not want to admit that the exploitation that was slavery was not just wrong but a terrible crime. It is hard to admit that you have done wrong, and even harder to admit that you have committed a terrible crime.

Thank you, Barack Obama.

And now everyone knows it.

Each of us lives in a "world" of reactions and subtle expressions ... how others see us before they know anything about us other than what is first visible ... and all the social cues that might elicit. ALL of that is, quite literally, prejudice - how we react, even in the smallest ways, to others. Our eyes might linger a little longer when glancing at an attractive guy or girl, maybe with a slight smile on our face. Each person elicits a slightly different 'tempo' from a sales clerk or restaurant server.

We each SEE a different world.

We each BECOME a different world for others.

Maybe ... just maybe ... we can do better. ALL of us.