The possibility of a nonwhite president in the United States Hiroki FUJITA (12/06/04) Can you imagine that the President of the United States could be a black person? According to the Constitution of the United States of America, all the citizens naturally born in the United States can be a president of the United States regardless of her/his race. The number of the blacks in the United States has been increasing in these 10 years. The census shows that the total of the population of the United States is 281.4 million. This number includes 34.7 million blacks, who are 12.3 percent of the whole population (2000). However, no black people have ever been elected as a president of the United States since its start. Not only have they not, but also other minorities such as women, Latinos or Asians have never been elected a president. It is an incredible fact that only white males have been the President of the United States. In this essay, first of all, I will talk about the possibility that if the blacks could be a president of the United States of America. Then, I would like to consider the likelihood for other ethnic minorities to be a president. Finally, I will reveal the causes and the difficulties that the minorities could face. As Mantsios (2000) reported, “Regardless of their class standing, women and members of minority races are confronted with oppressive forces precisely because of their gender, color or both” (p.345). In this quotation, women and members of minority races will face the unfair treatment even if she/he is in the higher social class, because hers/his gender or color of the skin belongs to the minority. By “class standing,” the author is referring to the structure of the society, which is invisible especially in the United States. Society is unconsciously divided into the class. Most people clearly know about it, but they just avoid mentioning in daily life. By “oppressive forces,” he is talking about the difficulties that the minorities will face in the society. Especially, when she/he who belongs to the minorities is trying to accomplish an ambitious dream such as a higher position or income in a company, she/he will certainly experience some kind of discrimination. Let us talk about the possibility of the black president. In “The First Black President?,” Mwangaguhunga argues the possibility of the black president in the United States (2003). In order to consider the possibility, he used the Senate as a measure to know if the majority in the United States feel reluctant to have a black as a president. When this article was written, there were no black Senators. Therefore, in his words, there are still “social barriers” in the United States; America is not ready to have a black man or woman as the president. On the other hand, in terms of the numerical possibility, as he mentioned in his article, it would be much more realistic to discuss the possibility of Latinos to be elected as a president. More and more Latinos have settled everywhere in the United States. Iowa is also not an exception. According to Blake’s article (2004), Latino population in Iowa “continues to flourish,” and it grew 12 percent from 2000 to 2003. They add an economic and cultural benefit to the state (Blake, 2004). Certainly, we can see many instructions or explanations written in both English and Spanish in daily life. It is no longer difficult to neglect the influence of those. In that sense, a Latino president might be seen soon. However, as Mantsios mentioned, her/his race “compound[s]” to personal class standing (2000). He showed a census that indicates the possibility to be poor according to the race and gender. In this census, 1 of 10 white males or females could be poor; in contrast, 1 of 4 black males or females could be poor. It is two times and more likely that the black will be poor in the United States. It is an unbelievable fact. Apparently, race relates to the class standing. The poverty lessens the chances to be educated, a personal educational background determines the employment, and then, the income is decided by the job. This cycle will continue from generation to generation. In addition, the minorities usually face the discrimination occasionally during the whole of her/his life. It is desperately disadvantageous. Running in the election needs lots of money, in general, because to win the election, it is necessary to organize a big campaign. Thus, usually, the poor cannot run for election. It is inevitably to be in the higher class to be a candidate. This is a fatal reason that there are no black Senators and no black president. As you see, obviously the race and the gender limit the possibility and the opportunity of success even if she/he belongs to the higher class. To be a candidate for Senator or the President would be a hard way, because most black people, or other minorities, cannot afford to run in an election for economical reasons. In addition, the prejudice against minorities would be the “oppressive forces” for them. It makes it more difficult for them to win the election. In that sense, the white male is greatly “privileged.” They never face the difficulties because of his race. Mwangaguhunga says the black president would be elected “within the century,” mentioning the Catholic Church that recently accepted Galileo’s law as a reality (2003). But in this context, he implies that to elect a black as a president would be an unthinkable matter for most people in the United States for several centuries. In this case, public consciousness is important factor. It would be rather difficult to change immediately. However, as the outcome of the last election shows, a strong possibility of a nonwhite president of the United States comes up. A black Senator was elected; Barack Obama from Illinois. He is the fifth black Senator in the States. As his brilliant great career shows, he is exceptionally active and intelligent person. According to his website, he graduated from Columbia University. Then, he went to Harvard Law School. He graduated in the second place. Currently he is a lecturer of constitutional law at the University of Chicago Law School (2004). At the Democratic National Convention held in this year, he addressed as the keynote speaker. As Cornwell pointed out in his article (2004), the keynote speaker holds the high expectation from the party. So did Bill Clinton. Even though he denied the possibility of the presidency as “silly” presently, many people definitely do expect him to run for the election in 2008 at the earliest (Fornek, 2004). In addition, He was elected with 70 percent approval in Illinois. He has a great expectation not only from the voters, but also the other Democrats. I would assume that the possibility of a nonwhite president is much more increased than ever before. Although running in 2008 is too early, 2012 or 2016 could be a good chance for him. The black president is no longer a dream. We don’t have to wait for next century as Mwangaguhunga insisted. I did have a pessimistic view before the election, but now, I would like to change it. We will see the black president in the near future. Works cited Blake, B. (2004, Oct 1). Most growth in Iowa from Latinos. The Des Moines Register, pp.1A-2A. Cornwell, R. (2004, Jul 27). An unknown rookie, but can Obama be first black President? The Independent, from http://news.independent.co.uk/world/americas/story.jsp?story=545067 Fornek, S. (2004, Nov 4). Obama for president? That's 'silly.' Chicago Sun-times, from http://www.suntimes.com/output/elect/cst-nws-sen04.html Mantsios, G. (2000). Class in America: Myths and Realities (2000). In G. Colombo &R. Cullon & B. Lisle (Eds.), Rereading America Cultural Contexts for Critical Thinking and Writing Sixth Edition (p.345). Boston: Bedford/St.Martin’s Mwangaguhunga, R. (2003, July 15). The First Black President? Oct 7, 2004, from http://www.globalblacknews.com/BlackPresident.html Obama for Illinois. (2004). Biography Barack Obama: The Background and Commitment to Make a Difference. Dec 5, 2004, from http://www.obamaforillinois.com/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC={98F1584F-9302-4038-BE87-6B52E9151CB3} U.S. Census Bureau. (2001, Aug 1). The Black Population 2000. Oct 7, 2004, from http://www.census.gov/prod/2001pubs/c2kbr01-5.pdf