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POST-RACISM?

Putting President Obama's Victory in Perspective1

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 December 2009

Thomas F. Pettigrew
Thomas F. Pettigrew*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of California, Santa Cruz
*
Professor Thomas F. Pettigrew, Department of Psychology, University of California, Santa Cruz, 273 Social Sciences 2, Santa Cruz, CA 95064. E-mail: pettigr@ucsc.edu
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Abstract

Does President Obama's momentous election victory signify a new, post-racism era in America? Many observers, such as a New York Times science editor, think so. But, unfortunately, this claim is premature for a host of reasons. [1] It took “a perfect storm” of interlocking factors to elect Obama. [2] Many bigots actually voted for Obama. [3] Two logical fallacies underlie this too-optimistic view. [4] Racist attitudes and actions repeatedly occurred throughout the campaign. [5] White Southern and older voters both demonstrated that rank racism remains. [6] Increased turn-out of young and minority voters was crucial. The paper closes by considering what changes in American race relations may take place during the Obama presidency.

Keywords

Post-RacismObama2008 Election
Type
STATE OF THE DISCIPLINE
Information
Du Bois Review: Social Science Research on Race , Volume 6 , Issue 2 , Fall 2009 , pp. 279 - 292
Copyright
Copyright © W.E.B. Du Bois Institute for African and African American Research 2009

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