In the midst of the race for the Democratic nomination, analysts and advisers have all shared their views on whether or not the country is ready for a drastic change. They all admit that we are in desperate need for change, but some are not sure if a change in race or gender is at hand. I am a black female, and this is the first time I will be eligible to vote in the General Election. During the 2000 and 2004 Elections I didn't pay any particular attention to the candidates or the platforms that they were pushing, all I knew was that I was a Democrat. But this year, I feel obligated to knew what the candidates are really about. I have to make decisions about my own views and decide who I want to represent me. Initially, I was proud that there was a Black candidate and a female candidate. I thought they their presence would showcase the progress that the nation, as a whole, was making. But, unfortunately all I have seen is the birth of deeper chasms between parties, communities, and marriages. Sometimes I feel embarrassed when the subject of politics is brought up during class, because it turns into a disaster. Every non-minority student is sure that I will vote for Barack, and every Black male is positive that I will vote for Hilary. Blacks and Whites, men and women have each been pushed into a corner by cliches and assumptions that we wish didn't exist anymore. My only fear is of what the nation will become if our Head of State no longer had such a familiar face. If our 44th President was brown could are nation grow up and accept the change? If our only chance at peace were in the hands of a woman, would our working men support her? We need a change, but I'm not sure if we are ready. I hope that we are, but I can barely believe it myself.
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I would like to think we could be ready, but I don't think it's going to happen. I'm almost positive we're looking at at least four years of President McCain--regardless of who wins the Democratic nomination. I believe Obama probably stands a better chance that Hillary of beating McCain, but that could just be my own dislike for HIllary Clinton and her platform. I would love to see a female president, but Clinton's not it--for a plethora of reasons.
I think that we will in fact have a black president, but the question should never be "are we ready?". Ready for what? as far as I can see, they are just people ready to run the country. It should never be about the fact that Obama is black. Look at there views, and decide, not whether or not we are "ready" for a black president.