by Mary Tyrer

Created on: September 16, 2008   Last Updated: October 01, 2008

This is the 21st century, and most people hope that racism would no longer be an issue. Sadly, racism is so imbedded in our society. Many fear it will become a problem in the Presidential election this November. The largest portion of the voting American public will be fair and vote for whom they believe to be the most qualified. However, some people will vote on a racial line.

Racism in this Presidential election will happen for both black and white Americans. Black America is excited to finally see a Black man break the bearers of White Washington and the Presidency. This comes with neither white nor black America looking at Barack Obama's qualifications, or disqualifications, only the color of his skin, which is a terrible commentary of our American society.

In the news, white America seems to accept Barack Obama. However, is this actually reflecting what will happen at the polls in November? Many suggest when the ballots are cast, white America will see race instead of Barack Obama's ideas he hopes to achieve, and vote on racial lines. As reported from many news institutions, it is not possible to see whether American's will vote on racial lines. However, some have suggested this could happen. There is no way to trace how they will cast that final all-important vote.

Civil Rights have come a long way. Yet living and working in common every day America it is obvious racism has a long way to go to make everything equal between the races, men, and women. While Barack Obama's campaign for the White House has been successful to this point, America still has an underlying prejudice and this goes for both black and white America.

Has America eradicated racism in American politics? Unfortunately, the answer is probably not, or more to the point, defiantly not. Americans would like to believe we as a nation have come far enough in the fight Civil Rights fight that black and white America no longer sees color. Hopefully, that is true, but even after the election, no matter who wins, the question of racism will still be asked in the workplace, by the water cooler and in the press.

The lines are drawn for racism to affect the race for the Presidency on both sides. Black America will vote for Barack Obama because they see a role model, the man who has broken the bearer for the Black man to hold the highest office in America. White America will not vote simply because Barack Obama is a Black man, as the prejudice still boils beneath the surface of America, for both. The best America can do is vote for who will do the best job as Commander and Chief for the United States of America without any other agenda, white or black.

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