Significance of Obama's election

• Why was Obama not universally loved by black Americans?

  Some felt that he was not 'one of them' due to having a foreign father
• How did Obama compensate for some black Americans not seeing him as 'one of them'

  Through Michelle Obama
• What made Michelle Obama a more 'real' black American?

  Her descent from slavery made her a 'real' black American
• What divisions within black Americans emerged throughout the campaign?

  Black class divisions
• What did Obama criticise?

  Absentee black fathers which led to criticism from black spokesman Jesse Jackson
• Which high profile celebrities supported Obama?

  Oprah Winfrey
• What occurred within the black American community upon his election?

  A universal black rejoicing due to the historical significance of American acceptance of a black president
• What did some consider Obama's election to be?

  An indication of racial equality
• What did Obama rely on to win?

  The minority vote with McCain beating him on the white vote
• How was the issue with the white vote made worse?

  There was a decline in voting numbers as more older white voters stayed home
• Who was a black commentator who expressed scepticisism?

  Conservative black intellectual Shelby Smith
• What did Shelby Smith argue?

  Argued in the LA Times that they key to Obama's success was to tell white Americans what they wanted to hear
• What did Smith say white Americans wanted to hear?

  That racism was no longer a barrier to black achievement, offering a redemption for the sin of slavery
• What did Obama experience throughout the start of his Presidency?

  Exceptionally high approval ratings, suggesting race to not be an issue
• What did Gallup polls show?

  That 70% of Americans said Obama's election would improve race relations and was a massive milestone
• What happened to counter progress in race relations?

  Computer servers of several major white supremacist web sites collapsed due to huge amounts of traffic
• What did Obama get involved in during his first year?

  Several race controversies
• What was the first race controversy?

  A monkey cartoon in the NY post (a supporter of John McCain) which seemed to present Obama as an animal
• When was the cartoon by the NY Post?

  18th February 2008
• What did the owner of the NY post do?

  The owner, Rupert Murdoch' personally apologised for the cartoon in response to the anger
• What did groups call for after the NY Post?

  The NAACP called for a boycott of the paper
• What was the background of the cartoonist?

  They had frequently been accused of bigotry, nicknamed the 'Picasso of prejudice'
• What was the second controversy?

  The 'Birther Controversy'
• What did right wingers claim during this controversy?

  Obama was not born in the US and therefore wasn't qualified to be President
• What did this controversy prompt?

  The governor of Hawaii and others felt it necessary to verify Barack Obama's birth certificate
• What did a July 2009 poll show?


  29% of Republicans believed that Obama wasn't born in the US and 30% weren't sure
• What was signed by some Republican congressman?

  11 signed a 'birther bill' demanding a birth certificate for future presidents
• What type of support did Obama surround himself with?

  A 'rainbow cabinet', an idea started by Clinton during his presidency
• What did Obama's cabinet include?

  Of the 21 members, 7 women, 4 black Americans, 3 Asian Americans, 2 Hispanics
• What could it be argued about the 'Rainbow Cabinet'?

  Only Attorney General Eric Holder (black American) held a major Cabinet position
• What did Obama receive in 2009?

  He won a Nobel Peace Prize for his actions in foreign affairs
• What racial problems continued?

  In 2014, major race riots occurred in St Louis
• Why did the riots in St Louis occur?

  They occurred following the shooting of a young black man Michael Brown by a white police officer in August 2014
• What other racist event occurred in June 2015?

  Dylan Roof murdered 9 black American members of a church congregation in South Carolina
• What did these racial problems show?

  The mere fact that a black American was in the white house did not bring racial harmony