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The idea of America becoming a melting pot, of moving beyond the issue of race and toward a society free of racism and discrimination where all are guaranteed the benefits of this great nation, has always been a myth rather than a reality. The election of President Barack Obama in 2008 has generated more debates on race and the future of race relations in America than in any other time in our country's great history. The increased optimism that America would transcend beyond race, that both White and Black racial attitudes would undergo a fundamental shift, and that race will no longer be part of American society has almost vanished in postracial America in the age of Obama. Despite this expectation, it is apparent that race still matters in America. As we continue to grapple with the issue of race and its impact on society, it is quite clear that race will continue to play an important role in defining who we are as Americans. In the twenty-first century, many facets of oppression still exist and are pervasive throughout American society. Silent, rather than overt, racism exists in our school systems, places of employment, health care systems, prison systems, immigrant communities, and other sectors of societies. Race permeates our society in ways we don't even realize and has taken away the best of who we are and what we can become as a nation.
I wish I could say that racism and prejudice were only distant memories. . . . We must dissent from the indifference. We must dissent from the apathy. We must dissent from the fear, the hatred and the mistrust. . . . We must dissent because America can do better, because America has no choice but to do better.1 - Thurgood Marshall, 1992
The proclivity for many Americans to avoid race-related conversations while promoting the idea of a postracial society voids what would be one of the most debatable topics to emerge in the twenty-first century: postracial America in the age of President Barack Obama. The idea of a postracial America continues to be lost in transition; race and racism continue to be significant factors as we delve into the deep waters of race in America. As we...