Your grandmother sounds great! But such grandmothers were rarer in Obama's day. (I take it that you are younger than Obama.)

I am close to Obama in age. His grandmother was like at least one of mine, and she was tame in her racism compared to either of my grandfathers and some of my uncles. For that matter the N word was casual and in the open in the Kansas town where I grew up.

I like your plan to vote for Obama in November. Me too.

Peter, thanks for your comments and your honesty!

I know that although Obama was born in 1961, he basically bypassed the 1960s because he was in the South Pacific and Asia the whole time. He may not have known people (like my parents) who helped to register African Americans to vote in the 1960s and who worked hard for racial equality.

I guess what's important here is for all of us to recognize that we all have different world views, and our leaders, in particular, need to avoid assuming that their experiences or perspectives are universal!

I think what might lead to great reconciliation between all people - rich, poor, different races, different faiths - if we all talked openly about our grandmothers and grandfathers (and crazy uncles)! Think about the progress we would make if that sort of honesty prevailed!

There's been such an atmosphere of "don't ask, don't tell" when it comes to prejudice that all kinds of prejudice have operated underground, under the radar - through code words and actions. Because of the covert nature of modern day racism, it's hard to tell exactly where racism thrives and where (and among whom) racism has lost it's power. I think also that because of this "don't talk, don't tell" way of dealing with prejudice that we may also not realize how many people actually are offended by racism (and reverse racism too).

Who can measure it?

I believe though that if we are to have an African American president that he too must be as sensitive and as careful about "reverse racism" as Caucasian president have had to be about "racism".

In order to eradicate it, we need to be honest about our own pre-judgements of others - and - we also need to watch out for ways in which we perpetuate stereotypes through our language.

Peter, thanks so much for commenting here. I also really liked the post you did recently about Obama and - I hope you write some more!

I would like to agree with you, Lucy, on the comment about the "typical white person" but I can't. I have to agree with Obama.

Perhaps you do not hear the racist sentiments in your family. Perhaps that's because you are not black in a white family. Perhaps Obama would hear more than you would in your own family.

I think what Obama is trying to say is that he realizes his grandmother doesn't mean to be racist, but the things she said come out that way. He knows she doesn't love him any less, but her sentiments are racist.

Though my [white] family is a very kind, generous, and religious family, since I have begun living in, working in, and interacting with people of color on a regular basis...as friends and not just people I "work with" (as one of my cousin suggested), I see the covert racism that happens.

My hearing is much more attuned to comments like one from my friend's grandma, "Oh Janet, I don't mind colored people. Really! I just hope you don't bring one home to marry!" or my childhood friend who immediately assumed a robber of a friend's house "must've been a n******." Those aren't the only comments I've heard.

Covert (and sometimes overt) racism is alive and well...and around us just as it is around Obama. It's just that Obama, his pastor, and many other black people I know, are much more aware of it than we are. I'm really glad Obama addressed it as openly as he did. I can only hope that it leads to the honest conversations we need to have.

Janet, thank you so much for commenting on my post! I love all of your posts so much!

I must confess this - I didn't actually hear Obama's comment about a "typical white person." But I do react negatively to anybody whoever says anything about a "typical" anybody unless they base that characterization on an opinion poll, sociological or epidemiological study, or some other at least quasi-scientific conclusion.

See, when we use words like "typical" - we are - by definition - pre-judging a group of people and assigning characteristics to members of that group - which is, also by definition, what "prejudice" is. So I do think that we should all avoid using words like "typical."

Barack Obama will need to learn to avoid "pre-judging" if he is to be president. If he pre-judges too many people, he will lose support as from people who work hard to avoid pre-judging others. That's really my only point. I want Obama to be successful and so, in my own lame way, I'm communicating here that I think he should take greater care with his language. If he does not take care, it will hurt him - and hurt our party and our progress.

The honest conversations that we need to have are probably not only occurring here on this blog but probably around many dinner tables this weekend. Conversation - and disagreement - are healthy. It's all part of progress.

I respect everything you've said in your comment, Janet, because I do know that your experience with racism is so much greater than my experience.

I have learned from so many of your blogs about racism - particularly when you teach us to see the world through other people's eyes. Please continue to teach me.

Lucy Belnora

Hey ya'll. Wassup. I see there that you are still discussing race. It's a good thing too. ;o)

I'll put in my two pennies. I too did not like Obama's choice of words when he said "typical white person." He made a mistake. If Hillary attended a church that was "unashamedly white" and if she described any black man as a "typical black person," she'd be tarred, feathered and run out of the country. At the least, she's be asked to step out of politics for good.

Yes, African Americans are new to power and yes we will make mistakes. However this does not give us the right to install a double standard, one for us and one for whites.

The fact that African Americans have endured oppression does not give African Americans the right or excuse to ignore their own prejudicial actions or words - and especially if we are to occupy the most powerful offices in the U.S.

We should not hold ourselves to a different standard than we hold whites. NOr should we expect white people to hold us to a different or more lenient standard.

"Reverse Racism" (blacks prejudice against whites) is as damaging as the orginal "Racism" (whites prejudice against blacks).

Two wrongs don't make a right.

Allowing "reverse racism" while repudiating "racism" will not bring us closer to true reconciliation.

All pre-judging and all prejudice and all stereotyping (or using of the word "typical") in describing race should be eliminated if we are to progress together.

I am a black person and I approve of my own message! (Smiles)

Zola J

Thanks everybody... I mainly meant to dispassionately offer the Gallup poll numbers and charts. I'm glad too that we all can feel free to openly discuss racism too. I respect each and every one of you and am thankful for your comments.

I confess. I been guilty before. I have said racist things (things against whites) before. I know that's harmful and hurtful, even when said jokingly. I can see how that might be even more hurtful to whites if we have an African American president. I haven't done it in a long time (months or years). If anybody ever catches me making blanket statements about 'all' white people or 'typical' white people - stop me. That's not how I want to be.

Zo J

I'm with Pam...I think it's important to have the conversations...and that's what *hasn't* happened...usually because it gets swept under the rug (dare I be bold enough to say...by white people).

Zola, I appreciate your honesty. Me being white and living/working in an African-American community, I have heard the statements most of my white friends would say are black people being racist. Sometimes, I admit, the statements do bother me. But sometimes I realize that they feel comfortable enough around me to be honest. It's no different in the white community. On neither side do I hear it *all* of the time...but on both sides I do hear it...which tells me racism is not dead. (a side note...I think that's where Barack is coming from...because he isn't white OR black...he's both! So he probably gets to hear the true messages on both sides. That's why I think his speech was so eloquent and honest because he speaks for BOTH sides!)

Because I hear it on both sides is why I get irritated when all of a sudden people lash out at Wright or other blacks saying, "But they're racist!!"...because the truth of the matter is, it's happening in the white community as well. Instead of acting so offended that Michael Richards or Don Imus or Rev. Wright said something, how about let's talk about it honestly and admit that not only does it happen...but people we know...and sometimes *we* ourselves...say things.

For me, Zola, my concern isn't making the overt blanket statements about black people...or any other people of color...it's that I say something that I don't even realize is racist. I know that the messages we receive in our society and, therefore, the things that come out of our mouths, may not seem racist or prejudiced to us whites, but people of color say, "I can't believe she just said that!" ...and we don't even realize what we just said. I am always thankful that people of color are as gracious as they are to overlook some of the things we say.

So, along with Zola (but from the white side), I would ask that if you, as a person of color, are offended by something I say (whether I mean to or not), please let me know. I need to be aware of what I'm saying and what people are hearing me saying...so that I can correct and self-monitor those things.

Way to start the conversation, Lucy! :)

In looking at the Gallup Poll strands, I was reminded of DNA. If we had McCains measure of popularity in there too it would REALLY look like DNA. This is the stuff of life, the push the pull, the shove, the tug, the expansion, the convergence.

Out of this process, IF it is allowed to go on in an honest way, which realy concerns me may not happen, it should produce something that if not totally agreeable, is at least real. We will see where our country is headed. Our majority values will at least seem to prevail.

Whether or not they actually prevail, again, is very dependent on the honesty of the candidates as they communicate what is important to them and as they reveal to us their genuine natures. One idea that got stessed in the 60's was that the WAY a person or group does something forever colors the outcome or product. I believe this is true and we have to be alert as we watch the campaigns proceed.

I was also interested in the varying views re: racial prejudice. I see people beginning to discern between overt, covert and unconcious racism.

For Obama's Grandma, I think she was expressing a fear that society she had lived in had taught her. She may have even gone to a Baptist Sunday School where she sang "Red and Yellow, Black and White, all are precious in His sight," and would probably have assured you that God loved everybody the same.

However, cautious pragmatism and self-preservation always seem to prompt EVERY culture to be leery of another. There always seems to be the idea that maybe those raised elsewhere or by people who look different may not have developed social morays, may not know how to behave, may seek or even value things "our people" would consider wicked. "You never know"...things like that, and I feel you all know this to be true.

Obama's Grandma displayed an interesting stage of human maturity when she admitted a [yes, typical...in that it IS or WAS commonly occuring] racial fear - in the presence of her mixed race grandson. Yet, all in the same moment, whle she rejected some part of him, his color, she was also fully embracing him as "one of us," who would surely understand.

As grandparent AND mom to a mixed race grandchild, I can assure you that people are the product of both their personality genes and their upbringing and NONE of it has to do with one's relative ability to achieve a tan.