Academic

By Richard Delgado

ASK MOM

Are We in a Post-Racial Society?

Ali Mustafa Gonzales Washington, IV (fictional name, real person) asks Mom about a colleague who approached him the other day. The colleague, who is Euro-American, asked Ali (who is not), what he thought of Obama?s victory. Ali got the distinct impression that the questioner believed that the election of the first Black president meant that America had entered into a post-racial era in which everyone is now equal. The past doesn?t matter, and affirmative action is no longer necessary. The colleague looked at Ali expectantly. Ali received the distinct impression that the colleague expected him to agree.

Ali says he replied a little grumpily. A new law school custodian had just given him a sharp look when he arrived at school carrying his briefcase that morning, and the day before one of his close relatives had described a horrific tale of official hassling in an airport, which caused the relative to miss a flight. The relative, like Ali, is dark-skinned and middle-eastern looking.

MOM SAYS that in situations like these, Ali needs to make a quick judgment call. If the colleague is an anti-racist well-wisher who is genuinely happy over Obama?s victory, the correct answer from Ali (assuming that he agrees) is to say that he is very happy, too. After all, one should not rain on other people?s parades.

But if the other person is testing you to see if you agree with the ?party line,? and you do not, in fact, agree that Obama?s election means that America has overnight become a multiracial paradise, it is perfectly OK to say so. To avoid getting backed into a corner, Ali could answer the question with a question: ?Oh, do you think so?? Or, ?What evidence do you have that things have really changed??

Ali could reply, ?What do you think the election means?? Until one learns more about the questioner and his or her motives, one may choose to remain noncommittal. Mom believes that it is, in fact, too early to tell what Obama?s election means for people of color in this country, hence refusing to allow the questioner to pin you down one way or the other is entirely sensible. This is particularly so if you have an inkling that the questioner is looking for ammunition to brand you one of those ungrateful minorities who dislikes America and is always seeing the worst.

Sometimes the glass is genuinely half full and half empty. Other times, it?s hard to tell how full it is. When you find yourself in this position, it is always appropriate to tell a questioner that you have not really formed an opinion. Fall back on a tried and true Socratic device. Ask, what does he think?

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Full post as published by BlackProf on March 27, 2009 (boomark / email).