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White House Opens Up on Race

Obama's inner circle talks candidly about racial issues

By Erin Mendell,  Newser User

Posted Feb 28, 2009 3:03 PM CST
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(Newser) – In a break from the tone of the Obama campaign, members of the White House inner-circle are talking candidly about race. Eric Holder's "nation of cowards" remark caught the most attention, but Michelle Obama and  EPA chief Lisa Jackson—also the first African-American in her position—have moved the conversation forward as well, writes Krissah Thompson in the Washington Post. Whether the nation is ready to join in is another question.

Some think there's a danger in talking about the issue too much. "Better to have the president and his top African-American aides serve as role models and achieve the broader objective by indirection," said one political scientist. Others see a danger in ignoring it. "I think that the line is, 'We've elected the black president, and now we're post-racial and everybody should just shut up.' It's very dismissive," said the head of a think tank on race.

Though this nation has proudly thought of itself as an ethnic melting pot, in things racial we have always been essentially a nation of cowards, Attorney General Eric Holder, said.
"Though this nation has proudly thought of itself as an ethnic melting pot, in things racial we have always been essentially a nation of cowards," Attorney General Eric Holder, said.   (AP Photo/Lawrence Jackson)
First lady Michelle Obama speaks during her visit to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in Washington, Thursday, Feb. 26, 2009.
First lady Michelle Obama speaks during her visit to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in Washington, Thursday, Feb. 26, 2009.   (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
Now in 2009, I am, along with you, responsible for ensuring that all Americans have clean water to drink. Change has certainly come to this agency, said EPA administrator Lisa Jackson
"Now in 2009, I am, along with you, responsible for ensuring that all Americans have clean water to drink. Change has certainly come to this agency," said EPA administrator Lisa Jackson   (AP Photo/Lawrence Jackson)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 15 comments
Guest
Mar 1, 2009 6:52 AM CST
People come to this site to read less. Come on!
Guest
Mar 1, 2009 4:45 AM CST
What an overwhelmingly disappointing and protracted rant, EP: a white person who wants to wipe their hands of racism for once and for all... classic. Unlike you, some of us were hoping that the Obama era might usher in a new awareness and frankness about racism... Not holding my breath. In a nutshell, when poverty rates for blacks are the same as for others, then get back to us about a "turning point in race relations". (Or do you believe that those rates simply reflect that blacks are inferior?)
Caps
Mar 1, 2009 4:15 AM CST
Hey, clrogers, we were all created by a loving God, whether our color is black, brown, white or yellow. We ALL need to get over this racist attitude. Both Black and White.... What I don't understand is why they call themselves African Americans? My fore fathers came from England, and I don't call myself English American. We are all Americans. White or Black.

Obama's race speech from the campaign
Huffington Post

The Post cartoon and racial associations
Los Angeles Times

 
race • Michelle Obama • race relations • Eric Holder • Obama administration • Obama Cabinet • Lisa Jackson

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