Beyond Black and White: Diverse Reactions to the Obama Election

by Maria Niles

Much of the perspective provided during the campaign and reactions to the election of Barack Obama have been framed by the legacy of America's long history of blacks, whites, racism, oppression and the struggle to realize civil rights.

However members of many other groups who do not fit the traditional black-white American racial paradigm, including Native Americans, Latinos and Asian Americans, have expressed their views on what Obama's victory and presidency might mean to their communities.

Some reactions are general hopes, dreams and explanations of what the election of a black president means to them. Others are looking at what policy changes they would like to see from an Obama presidency while there are those who are interested in whom he will appoint to serve in his administration.

Maegan la Mala of VivirLatino notes that Afro-Latinos were overlooked and seen only as discrete groups, has a round up of some reactions and writes:

One point that we, and other blogfriends have been trying to make ever since the start of the very long road to the White House, was that the way race and racial politics are talked about and analyzed needs to change. There was a clear reason why being Black and Latino was viewed as two mutually exclusive realms of being.

Claire at Hyphen Magazine explores the concept of Obama as Asian-American and concludes:

I don't know what that means for the future, except that Obama is my president. He is the only political leader I've ever seen who truly represents not just my experience, but my point of view on domestic and foreign policy. This is a view that is shaped by knowing and understanding -- as only a child living across two cultures can -- that America is not the only country, that American ways are not the only ways, and that we as a nation and a people have much to learn from others. That's not so much where race breaks down as it is where race gives way to things that have more meaning.

Ennis at Sepia Mutiny asks What Obama's victory means for me (and perhaps you):

What does this mean for desis? Well, not much in some ways. We’re still a small group, and we’re not going to get singled out for ponies and party favors.

But I think, for the first time, we’ve been truly seen and recognized. Obama knows both South Asia and South Asians. We aren’t just some weird American fringe ethnic group to him. He has called himself desi, cooked dal, and travelled in the desh.

His campaign drew upon desis not just for topics to do with South Asia, but for every day campaign issues. The director of my local Obama campaign office was actually a Ugandan Desi ABD whose father was born in Jinja. One of the core staff members in the office was a desi female, one of the Patels from Kentucky.

I am hopeful that under an Obama administration our background will not be seen as a liability or as something intrinsically un-American. And that, to me, is change that we sorely need.

That is my birthright as an American, what all of us are promised as citizens, that we will be part of one nation, indivisible, where all are acknowledged as equal. I think that, on Tuesday, we took a small step in the right direction.

Angela Pang at AsianWeek has a round up of Asian American reactions:

Locally and nationwide, Asian American groups are excited about President-elect Barack Obama. Here are some thoughts on how Obama’s historical election will affect the Asian American community in general and the work these organizations are doing in the community.

Ginny of Ginny's Thoughts & Things shares her Thoughts From An American Muslim Obama Supporter and she is very cautiously optimistic:

As a Muslim who voted for Obama, I didn’t see him as the “mahdi”, I didn’t have this vision of grandeur in my head that my life, and the lives of others, Muslims and non-Muslims alike, would all of a sudden, miraculously, get better upon his election and/or his assumption of the office of President come January 20th....

As far as the issues regarding Obama’s cabinet and governing choices and how they will affect Muslims both here and abroad, I’m taking a wait and see approach as far as that goes.

Jessica Yee, Special Correspondent to Racialicious writes about Barack Obama and the Native Vote:

Like millions of people all over the world, I’m ecstatic, over-the-moon inspired by Obama’s win. If for no other reason (and all the others too in which we share the same opinion, like abortion for example) than his win is actually a good thing for the people in my community. Yes indeed, the new leadership of Barack Obama in the United States of America is good for Native people, and you can sure as hell bet that a whole lot of us voted for him, and are counting on him to really give a crap about the issues we are facing.

Some bloggers are focusing on specific policy they would like to see enacted after January 20th. Maegan la Mala at VivirLatino highlights What a Colombian Indigenous Group Wants from Obama:

During a pre-election debate, Barack Obama made a clear point about one of the reasons he did not support the Colombian Free Trade agreement, the violence against workers. The Association of Indigenous Councils of Northern Cauca, ACIN, were appreciative of Obama's position, but wanted to shed light on their specific struggle and the struggles of other Native peoples in Colombia. So they, like so many others are doing, sent a letter to the President-Elect.

La Macha at VivirLatino and Marisa Treviño at Latina Lista both call for a moratorium on immigration raids.

Marisa writes:

The unprecedented turnout of Latino voters for Barack Obama signaled not just a desire for change in the country but a change in how federal immigration policy is adversely impacting Latino communities....

So I vote that Obama make immigration reform a priority. Unlike the financial help being afforded Wall Street and debated for the auto industry, which takes a trickle down effect to reach Main Street USA, the Obama Administration can implement a form of help that would immediately relieve countless Latino communities across the nation — put a moratorium on immigration raids.

La Macha links to a petition asking Obama to make this policy change.

And, although the media has focused on the possibility of Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State, Obama has also met with Bill Richardson about the role. Latino and Asian bloggers are buzzing about the possibility of Richardson and others serving and also looking at who is participating in the transition.

Jennifer at VivirLatino notes that a group of Latino activists are lobbying for Richardson.

Seneca at LatinoPoliticsBlog.com is not optimistic:

Hispanics will not fare high in initial appointments in the new Obama administration. Only three have been even mentioned: Richardson, Salazar (Sen. Ken) and perhaps Frederico Peña, but really only Richardson gets any real play.

And Seneca suggests that perhaps eyes should be on some different prizes:

Most Latinos have not yet figured out that most often an appointment to a regulatory agency (FCC, FDA, FTC, Nuclear Energy Commission, Highway Commission et al) is far more coveted by the economic movers and shakers because the regulatory process is the realm of the true economic gatekeepers in Washington not the normal executive departments.

Until the new administration takes office there is the transition team (which could be a farm team for some plum assignments). Eugenia Beh at Asian Americans for Obama '08 reports that transition team Executive Director, Chris Lu, is the most searched for person at their site. Beh also spotted several Asian American members of the Agency Review Teams.

It is wonderful to read the range of reactions from diverse communities. And while many are hopeful after Obama's election, most seem to understand that while a president of color inspires, his victory does not erase the need to continue seeking representation and policy of specific interest to those communities.

What policy changes impacting communities of color would you like to see President Obama make? Is there anyone in particular you are hoping will serve in a diverse cabinet?

BlogHer CE Maria Niles blogs about both race and politics at her personal blog PopConsumer