Post-Racial Era?

During 2008 a question often raised with a mixed-race candidate successfully campaigning for the presidency was whether the United States had evolved to a post-racial political status (Schorr). Four recent incidents clearly show such evolution has not taken place.

• U.S. Department of Justice decision to file suit against Arizona and its new immigration law. (Schnur)
• U.S. Department of Justice decision not to pursue significant voter intimidation charges against the New Black Panther Party (Crawford)
• The NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) condemnation of the Tea Party movement on the basis of alleged racism (Carnevale)
• Jesse Jackson's invective against the foolish comments by Cleveland Cavaliers owner Daniel Gilbert as racist after star player LeBron James chose to play for the Miami Heat (Jones)

Interestingly, it is the so-called progressives in each of these situations who appear to have made race a central issue. Ironically, it has been almost a year since President Obama held the so-called "Beer Summit" to create a "teaching moment" following the arrest of African-American Henry Louis Gates Jr. after he was supposedly a victim of racial profiling. Remember, our President, renowned for his lengthy consideration of issues before making a decision - whether it be Afghanistan strategy, waving the Jones Act, getting a dog, or choosing a church - impulsively proclaimed the Cambridge police acted "stupidly." No, unfortunately, we are not in a post-racial era.

References:
Carnevale, Mary Lu. "Political Wisdom: NAACP vs. Tea Party, Round 2." Wall Street Journal Blogs - Washington Wire. Dow Jones & Company, Inc., 16 July 2010. Web. 17 July 2010. http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2010/07/16/political-wisdom-naacp-vs-tea-party-round-2/.

Clark, Vernon. "Charles Ogletree Tackles Henry Louis Gates’ Arrest in New Book." The Edge. Boston Herald and Herald Media, 14 July 2010. Web. 17 July 2010. http://www.bostonherald.com/entertainment/books/view/20100714charles_ogletree_tackles_henry_louis_gates_arrest_in_new_book/srvc=home&position=recent.

Crawford, Jan. "New Black Panther Case Spurs Civil Rights Commission to Challenge DOJ." Breaking News Headlines. CBS Interactive Inc., 14 July 2010. Web. 17 July 2010. http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504564_162-20010581-504564.html.

Jones, Betsy. "Jesse Jackson Stands By LeBron - and 'Slavery' Slam of Cavs Owner." BET.com News. Black Entertainment Television LLC, 15 July 2010. Web. 17 July 2010. http://www.bet.com/News/National_Jesse_Jackson_Stands_By_LeBron_and_Slavery_Slam_of_Cavs_Owner.htm.

Schnur, Dan. "The Politics of Suing Arizona." Washington Post - Opinions. The Washington Post Company, 11 July 2010. Web. 17 July 2010. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/07/09/AR2010070904719.html.

Schorr, Daniel. "A New, 'Post-Racial' Political Era in America : NPR." NPR News Analysis. National Public Radio, 28 Jan. 2008. Web. 17 July 2010. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=18489466.