Are you surprised to hear that race relations in the U.S. have gotten worse during President Obama's tenure?

GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad — Fri, 24 Jul 2015 07:33:49 -0400

Seven years ago, in the gauzy afterglow of a stirring election night in Chicago, commentators dared ask whether the United States had finally begun to heal its divisions over race and atone for the original sin of slavery by electing its first black president. It has not. Not even close.

A New York Times/CBS News poll conducted last week reveals that nearly six in 10 Americans, including heavy majorities of both whites and blacks, think race relations are generally bad, and that nearly four in 10 think the situation is getting worse. By comparison, two-thirds of Americans surveyed shortly after President Obama took office said they believed that race relations were generally good.

The swings in attitude have been particularly striking among African-Americans. During Mr. Obama’s 2008 campaign, nearly 60 percent of blacks said race relations were generally bad, but that number was cut in half shortly after he won. It has now soared to 68 percent, the highest level of discontent among blacks during the Obama years and close to the numbers recorded in the aftermath of the riots that followed the 1992 acquittal of Los Angeles police officers charged in the beating of Rodney King.

Only a fifth of those surveyed said they thought race relations were improving, while about 40 percent of both blacks and whites said they were staying essentially the same.

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/24/us/poll-shows-most-americans-think-race-relations-are-bad.html?ref=todayspaper&_r=0

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Response by TSgt David L. made Jul 24 at 2015 7:37 AM

TSgt David L. — Fri, 24 Jul 2015 07:37:40 -0400

It seems like the rift is greater than ever. Folks burning and looting their own communities. That was never the norm like it appears to be now. It seems to be a requirement to be over the top mad about any slight againsts any one group today.

Response by SGM Matthew Quick made Jul 24 at 2015 7:48 AM

SGM Matthew Quick — Fri, 24 Jul 2015 07:48:17 -0400

First, President Obama is not a black president or a white president...he is mulatto or bi-racial.

Whether or not people believe this is the President Obama Administration's fault or not, an American President (or his spouse) should not appear to favor a single ethnic group over another.

I truly believe this countries race relation issue is NOT an issue with our President, but the bottom feeding news organizations. Our news organizations do a completely UNETHICALLY balanced job reporting white-on-black crimes...this is the largest fuel source for our countries race issues.

Response by MSG Floyd Williams made Jul 24 at 2015 8:17 AM

MSG Floyd Williams — Fri, 24 Jul 2015 08:17:24 -0400

If race relations got worse it isn't President Obama fault people chose to hate, we're more focus on tearing each other down than to ban together to preserve life in this country.

Response by SFC Maury Gonzalez made Jul 24 at 2015 8:23 AM

SFC Maury Gonzalez — Fri, 24 Jul 2015 08:23:52 -0400

Duh.......

Response by CSM David Heidke made Jul 24 at 2015 8:39 AM

CSM David Heidke — Fri, 24 Jul 2015 08:39:46 -0400

I have never in my life seen race relations this bad. ever.

Response by SSgt Alex Robinson made Jul 24 at 2015 9:45 AM

SSgt Alex Robinson — Fri, 24 Jul 2015 09:45:11 -0400

No. Unfortunately he has helped fester worsening relations. He is pitting different groups against each other.

Response by SSG Izzy Abbass made Jul 24 at 2015 10:48 AM

SSG Izzy Abbass — Fri, 24 Jul 2015 10:48:31 -0400

Race relations have never been good. They just get more attention these days. They spotlight has been shown more brightly on them because of the media and prevalence of cameras around the country - mobile devices.

Response by COL Jean (John) F. B. made Jul 24 at 2015 11:05 AM

COL Jean (John) F. B. — Fri, 24 Jul 2015 11:05:48 -0400

GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad - Disappointed, yes... surprised, no. One only needs to look at his background/history (what little he has allowed to be public) to see that he is and always has been a racist and is married to a racist of the worst kind. He surrounds himself with racists and has appointed them to key positions in his Administration. In addition, he uses race-baiters like Al Sharpton as advisors. Why would anybody expect anything different?

Response by Cpl Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 24 at 2015 11:51 AM

Cpl Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 24 Jul 2015 11:51:28 -0400

Lets look at the O'Malley incident as a test case in race relations. When he said "All Lives Matter," he was right, but he was booed off the stage by the "Black Lives Matter" crowd. Why wouldn't they celebrate all lives or are they so selfish they don't care about anyone but themselves. Personally, I saw naked racism in that audience.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 24 at 2015 12:48 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 24 Jul 2015 12:48:37 -0400

Actually, I think Obama's Presidency has encouraged people to finally think about, contemplate, and discuss race in the country. The race problems we've had in this country have been here all along; they just never got talked about. Now, two things have converged-- a Black President and widespread social media & camera coverage. People across the country are seeing, many for the first time, some of the constant, low-level abuse and bullying Black people have had to put up with, due to everyone and their dog having cameras now, and access to social media.

It's like when sexual assault reporting started being taken seriously, and then there was a corresponding rise in reported cases. Sexual assault reporting didn't cause more sexual assaults; those assaults were always there, but now people felt it was worthwhile to address them so a vast underground of nastiness got some light shed on it.

You can argue that widespread social media would have spread the word about Black people being abused regardless of who was in office and you'd probably have a valid argument. It could be coincidence that all this social technology is happening when a Black man sits in the Oval Office. Of course, the visceral reaction of some racists because of his color probably helped to show just how far some folks were willing to go in their public comments, which established the far limits of how the conversation would go.

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Jul 24 at 2015 4:21 PM

SFC Michael Hasbun — Fri, 24 Jul 2015 16:21:47 -0400

Did anyone really think the bigots and Bubbas were going to open their eyes and suddenly see everyone as equal just because Obama was President? If anything it seems like people went completely out of their way to further cement racism in order to show that "ain't no black president gonna tell me who to like!"... It's a very sad commentary on our nation...

Response by MSG Floyd Williams made Jul 24 at 2015 6:53 PM

MSG Floyd Williams — Fri, 24 Jul 2015 18:53:01 -0400

We were all created to be one body. And one vital key to living in peace, no matter what the other person is like, is to show respect.

Response by SPC Tony Bucaro made Jul 24 at 2015 7:49 PM

SPC Tony Bucaro — Fri, 24 Jul 2015 19:49:51 -0400

No I'm not surprised because he fueled the fire in my opinion.

Response by GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad made Jul 26 at 2015 1:10 PM

GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad — Sun, 26 Jul 2015 13:10:15 -0400

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Nov 21 at 2015 3:29 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Sat, 21 Nov 2015 15:29:19 -0500

Yes it is a complete surprise. In my opinion he gives validity to hate groups which fuels the flames.