If there is one thing that the Obama campaign has demonstrated, it is that relationships between the races in this country are still very much in flux. On the white/majority side, we see a re-negotiation of a new demographic reality in which whites will be loosing their majority status in a number of significant places (like Texas).
At the same time, majority status brings with it a sense of entitlement and privilege. As a smart friend of mine likes to say, "Priveleged people experience equality as discrimination."
The tension among majority voters, then, is strong feelings of moral commitment to equality, while at the same time experiencing quick feelings of victimization by the radical and on-going change in their racial privilege. The question of which of these feelings is stronger is part of the current struggle for white folks souls (and votes).
When the feeling of entitlement and victimization is the dominant narrative and meets the changing realities in this country, mischief abounds.
So, my question is: "Where is Sarah Palin on Race?"
In this election, particularly, this question must be answered. How does she see the world's complex racial questions? How about just this country's? What are her ideas about the actual issues of racial relations in this country? Or, if she is unwilling to discuss that (which would speak volumes) what about the stand-in issues like Katrina, Voting Rights, Immigration, affirmative action, Unions, and Equal Pay (which is as much a race issue as it is a gender issue).
There are certainly some concerning facts. Her involvement/flirtation with the AKIP (Alaska Independence Party) is worrisome. As a semi-sessioniost political party, do they have a platform about Native Americans? Do they subscribe to a Tancredo-esq "[White] America First" policy (Digression -- isn't this whole Republican Convention "Country First" slogan just a little scary considering the slide of the America First movement from anti-war to Republican pro-Nazi, anti-semite organization?). Do they believe as an Alaska constituional matter in Equal Rights or even equal protections of the law? Do they have a number of militia or posse comitatus types among their ranks? Is Todd Palin (First Dude) one of those folks? I would like to know more about this.
Her daughter's fiance is a self-described "redneck." Now, I know from experience that this adjective, when used as self-description (rather than as insult) is associated with guns, fighting, machismo and male domination over women. It is often also identified with white racial "pride", confederate flags and a sense of racial victimizatuion. This might just be the tryout identity for a young high school student. But the tryout might stick and this young redneck fellow, Levi, might end up/be just the kind of young man Sarah Palin prefers. Although this issue does not directly speak to her policy ideas about race, the questions that should be addressed to get important context. I would like to know more about this.
Did the family ever have a nanny to help raise the kids (remember those days <cough> Attorney General Zoey Baird <cough>)?
There are many other things I would like to know. These are Sarah Palin things about which America currently has no clue. I have a feeling that finding out the answers might be difficult (especially in two months) but we need to try. We need to try because we can no longer survive the white majority enforcing its privilege by denying the equality or dignity of "others."
And we need to get media, traditional and new, to try. Because my hunch is that the true answers would drive Native Americans, Hispanics, Blacks and other marginalized folks even further into the arms of the diverse and caring Democratic Party.
And help them pull the lever for Barack.
What do you want to know?