Race and the Obama phenomenon : the vision of a more perfect multiracial union / edited by G. Reginald Daniel and Hettie V. Williams.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Daniel, G. Reginald, 1949-2022, author.

Williams, Hettie V., author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Obama, Barack--Influence.

Obama, Barack.

National characteristics, American.

History.

Race relations.

United States--Race relations--21st century.

United States.

United States--Politics and government--2009-.

Politics and government.

National characteristics, American--History--21st century.

Democracy--United States.

Democracy.

Physical Description:

xlii, 422 pages ; 24 cm

Place of Publication:

Jackson [Mississippi] : University Press of Mississippi, [2014]

Summary:

The concept of a more perfect union remains a constant theme in the political rhetoric of Barack Obama. From his now historic race speech to his second victory speech delivered on November 7, 2012, that striving is evident. "Tonight, more than two hundred years after a former colony won the right to determine its own destiny, the task of perfecting our union moves forward," stated the forty-fourth president of the United States upon securing a second term in office after a hard-fought political contest. Obama borrows this rhetoric from the founding documents of the United States set forth in the U.S. Constitution and in Abraham Lincoln's "Gettysburg Address." How naive or realistic is Obama's vision of a more perfect American union that brings together people across racial, class, and political lines? How can this vision of a more inclusive America be realized in a society that remains racist at its core? These essays seek answers to these complicated questions by examining the 2008 and 2012 elections as well as the events of President Obama's first term. Written by preeminent race scholars from multiple disciplines, the volume brings together competing perspectives on race, gender, and the historic significance of Obama's election and reelection. The president heralded in his November 2012 acceptance speech, "The idea that if you're willing to work hard, it doesn't matter who you are, or where you come from, or what you look like... whether you're black or white, Hispanic or Asian or Native American." These essayists argue the truth of that statement and assess whether America has made any progress toward that vision. Book jacket.

Contents:

Part I Race, Obama, and Multiraciality

1 Race and Multiraciality: From Barack Obama to Trayvon Martin / G. Reginald Daniel Daniel, G. Reginald 3

2 By Casta, Color Wheel, and Computer Graphics: Visual Representations of Racially Mixed People / Greg Carter Carter, Greg 41

3 Barack Obama Embracing Multiplicity-Being a Catalyst for Change / Janet C. Mendoza Stickmon Stickmon, Janet C. Mendoza 62

4 In Pursuit of Self: The Identity of an American President and Cosmopolitanism / Hettie V. Williams Williams, Hettie V. 84

Part II Obama, Blackness, and the "Post-Racial Idea"

5 Barack Hussein Obama, or, the Name of the Father / Tavia Nyong'o Nyong'o, Tavia 117

6 The End(s) of Difference?: Towards an Understanding of the "Post" in "Post-Racial" / Lisa Anderson-Levy Anderson-Levy, Lisa 133

7 On the Impossibilities of a Post-Racist America in the Obama Era / Kahanja Keita Carroll Carroll, Kahanja Keita 147

8 Obama, the Instability of Color Lines, and the Promise of a Postethnic Future / David A. Hollinger Hollinger, David A. 167

Part III Race, Gender, and the Obama Phenomenon

9 From Chattel to First Lady: Black Women Moving from the Margins / Marsila J. Tyson Darling Darling, Marsila J. Tyson 177

10 The "Outsider" and the Presidency: Mediated Representations of Race and Gender in the 2008 Presidential Primaries / Tissa Ditonto Ditonto, Tissa 201

11 Obama's "Unisex" Campaign: Masculinities, Race, and Law / Frank Rudy Cooper Cooper, Frank Rudy 225

12 "Everything His Father Was Not": Fatherhood and Father Figures in Barack Obama's First Term / Heidi Ardizzone Ardizzone, Heidi 244

Part IV Race, Politics, and the Obama Phenomenon

13 Barack Obama's Address to the 2004 Democratic National Convention: Trauma, Compromise, Consilience and the (Im)Possibility of Racial Reconciliation / David A. Frank Frank, David A., Mark Lawrence McPhail McPhail, Mark Lawrence 265

14 Barack Obama's White Appeal and the Perverse Racial Politics of the Post-Civil Rights Era / Paul Street Street, Paul 287

15 Barack Obama's (Im)Perfect Union: An Analysis of the Strategic Successes and Failures in His Speech on Race / Ebony Utley Utley, Ebony, Amy L. Heyse Heyse, Amy L. 311.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Other Format:

Online version: Race and the Obama phenomenon

ISBN:

9781628460216

1628460210

OCLC:

861675744