Racial prejudice continues to be substantial in this country.
Many people want to believe that with the election of President Obama we now live in a post-racial society. The term post-racial first emerged in everyday parlance during the election cycle to describe the Obama campaign's efforts to transcend racial lines and appeal to all voters. The Obama campaign's organizing model relied heavily on the Internet in addition to black churches and social justice advocacy groups, traditional bulwarks for black candidates. That said, candidate Obama acknowledged, in very explicit terms, the role of race in society and his own life in his speech, Our Challenge as a People.
To explore more about the persistence of racial preference and prejudice, examine the following resources.
Learning Resources and Activities
- Read an excerpt of Obama's speech on race, accompanied by related classroom activities.
- Read a summary of evidence on the persistence of racial prejudice and discrimination.
