Some of the things i've beared witness to, since this presidential 2008 race began over a year ago, in terms of U.S media representations of our "others" , it is highly apparent that the gender and race cards were heavily played. Yet somehow the Obama campaign has defied all odds and shown (as i argued in my papers) that theories of the other, whether its "the orient," "the clash" or in the case of the presidential race: the "women" or Obama the "African American", they are only societal constructs that offer marginalized perspectives which inhibit us. And Now because it is technically monday Nov. 3rd in the AM hours- election day Nov 4th is only 32 hours away! and the notions of the other will be proven wrong or so i dearly hope.
somewhere, someone may surely argue, that the claims i am making are quite the stretch. However, for those that argue that race relations or even sexism and gender biases cannot be compared to orientalism or notions of "the other" i would disagree because i see undeniable similarity. In my political communication course taught during the spring semester of last year we traced the two democratic candidates in the primary race to see how media depictions framed them, in ways that both helped and hindered their campaigns. Hasn't this election showed how race and gender are in some ways still viewed as the "other?"
My final paper of the course argued that the gender card was often used against Hillary Clinton in a manner that tarnished her image framing her usually as an emotionless, "bitch" belonging in her words to the "sisterhood of the travelling pantsuit" (my favorite line of all times at the DNC) which others tragically viewed as a flaw. Women in politics or women in general, good at what they do: intelligent, outspoken, yet seemingly agressive somehow end up being seen as "not feminine enough" or pinned as "the bitch." Interestingly enough Obama, though running in 2008 where racism is no longer "overt", still has to deal with what some call the "bradley effect" or suberverted racial motives influencing polls, and perhaps viewed by some as a threat to election day. Obama was first painted as "not black enough" then appeared as a medley. on the recent october issue of time magazine the campain issue: "why the economy is trumping race" they've shown how far the Obama campaign has come in battling racial political biases. I firmly believe that on Nov 4th Obama will be the first African American Presidential Candidate sworn into the white house.
If that doesn't disprove history and challenge previous notions than i don't know what does. Obama isn't the "other," he is the one. He is like all of us filled with hope that the U.S can regain respect in the world, and rise to be a symbol of what it once represented. His message of change proves that new ideas, openness, freedom to act, can challenge the ideas of impossibility. even 20 years ago many americans would have probably doubted how far he could come, even doubt his running- yet Barak Obama has done it. The media as a result of his campaign has been filled with a multitude of african american commentators, journalists, and interviews with diverse american citizens following the Obama campaigns's every footstep.
when we've reached a point in our country where 7 year olds are appearing on CNN singing songs on "you can vote however you like" you know something serious has happened- a rippling effect of political activism has changed an apathetic youth into a mobalized movement of social change- people are challenging the realm of possibility just as we can challenge the theories of the clash and orientalism.
reminder: look above at the link posted to see the you tube clip of the atlanta students rapping.
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