Did "Everyday Racists" Elect Obama?

By Marcus Burke, Ph.D.

There has been much discussion about the role that race played in the election of the first African American to the office of President of the United States.

Some have argued that Barack Obama succeeded precisely because of his race and because of the rare success of his campaign in mobilizing the black vote, whose numbers it is argued, were enough to tip the scales in his favor. Others have countered that in a country where so many states are still deeply and openly racist, he was in all likelihood elected despite his race.

It's a fascinating debate but one that is unlikely to be resolved.

It would be a mistake however, to assume that these diametrically opposed groups would automatically cancel each other out: that that for every black vote gained by the Obama campaign, another was lost from a racist white.

As Charles Blow noted in an Op Ed piece in August 2008, if even 15 percent of the electorate refused to vote for a black president, that would be more than the total number of blacks in America. By such analysis McCain ought to have won.

But he didn't.

So as interesting as this debate has been, far more interesting questions concern sentiments of those whites (or non-blacks at least) that did vote for Obama. Are we to assume that the rest of the country has no view on race?

In the same New York Times piece, Charles Blow refers to the "murky world of modern racism, where most of the open animus has been replaced by a shadowy bias that is difficult to measure." I find this analysis insightful because despite common assumptions, being "racist" isn't a simple black and white proposition - any more than is skin color.

Racism is in practice, an increasingly complex and poorly defined set of socio-psychological thoughts and behaviors that blacks and whites very often characterize differently. One man's 'liberal' may be another man's 'racist' and there is usually some disagreement over whether a particular thought or action constitutes racism or not.

It is in the midst of this sticky quagmire that the election was won - thanks to the everyday racist.

I'd like to suggest at least two distinct types of racism:

In Principle Racism: This group includes, but is not defined by, groups like the KKK and the Neo Nazis. Often readily recognized, the group include also includes ordinary citizens who, although never openly hostile still hold deeply racist beliefs.

Whatever their outward appearance, this group are committed "true" racists, who believe that blacks are inferior to whites. Period. They believe that the differences are not so much social but integral to the individual - and can't readily be changed. These guys didn't vote for Obama.

Everyday Racism: This group is defined by individuals who are often racist in practice (in thought and / or deed) but believe, deep down, that we are all equal. They see their everyday racism as a consequence of largely social but nevertheless very real differences between blacks and whites. They are part of Blow's "murky world of racism" because their beliefs can appear inconsistent and contradictory.

Everyday racists still discriminate against minorities. They may fear the 'average black male on the street' - but feel that it is a matter of verifiable fact that that blacks are more likely to be involved with drugs and / or violent street crime. But everyday racists posit a social basis rather than a biological basis for this state of affairs, and the way that they feel about African Americans, and deep down, they feel guilty about their racism because believe in fairness and equality. Everyday racists are perturbed by the status quo and the unfairness in society.

This group readily seizes upon, embraces and promotes any example of African American integrity as evidence that they are not racist in principle and that blacks and whites are transposable.
It is this group of 'racists' (perhaps the majority of the electorate) that elected America's first black president.

It is important to note, however, that not any black man would have done. Barack Obama was undoubtedly the best candidate we've seen in years. Based on a barrage of factors, it soon became transparent that Obama should have won this election if his skin were a subtle hue of chartreuse with turquoise polka dots. Barack Obama was the man for the job, whatever his skin color, and his election is not merely a renunciation of the Bush years but is an authentic phenomenon in its own right.

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But the ability to elect a black man was immense psychological bonus. It was the icing on an already fine-looking cake and a titanic motivating factor not just for blacks but for whites also.
Americans harbor a real desire to see justice done and the downtrodden prevail. And a black president represents the ultimate underdog, as Nelson Mandela proved when he became leader of the most institutionally racist country on earth during the later part of the twentieth century; a country that still had the black majority literally sitting at the back of the bus, disenfranchised and unable to vote. Yet in 1994, in an historic demonstration of transformation, the country relinquished its entire politically protected racist system known as Apartheid, electing a former black "terrorist" - a freedom fighter South Africa had sent to jail for 27 years.

In the United States, choosing an African American for the office of President was a unique opportunity to help script the perfect ending to another epic novel.

Elections are won and lost with the swing vote. And what Obama brought to the table was just too good to turn down: a profound cleansing; a radical social enema that brought a special promise. The promise that we could feel good about ourselves again - a slam dunk for the true swing voter, turning the much hyped Bradley Effect fully on its head. Ultimately, for the everyday racist, voting for this young black man actually made us feel better about ourselves. And in a classic triumph of good over evil, the black underdog came to symbolize the righteous. The resulting inauguration has assuaged our guilt, vindicated our sense of fair play and eased our collective conscience.

The appointment of Barack Obama represents more than the election of a likeable and competent candidate to the highest office in the land; it stands for a rejection of slavery, of our history, of all the immorality and injustices that have gone before us; of all that is wrong with our society.

This symbolism has given Obama the much-hyped saint-like status that has been the subject of some mockery. However the truth is his triumph does have an almost religious aspect. It has allowed the American people not only to make the right choice, but to feel psychologically empowered by that choice - perhaps even pious. It symbolizes the metaphorical purification of our collective sin, because while we're hoping that Obama will manage to save our country - we're banking on him to save us from ourselves.