The Politics of Race in the Obama Era
Ray Block Jr.
Fall Semester, 2020
Overview
- What are Obama effects?
- The logic of Obama effects
- Race, the Obamas and narratives re: post vs. most racial America (class discussion)
What are Obama effects?
FLOTUS effects = Standing upright in crooked rooms
- What’s crooked? Controlling race/gender images
- Stereotypes (e.g., Mammy, Sapphire, Jezebel, etc.)
What are Obama effects?
FLOTUS effects = Standing upright in crooked rooms
- What can be done? Realign self and/or straighten room
- Michelle Obama as “reference point”
What are Obama effects?
POTUS effects \(\neq\) “Bradley” (or “Wilder”) effects
- Bradley/Wilder effects = gap between minority candidate’s projected and validated vote shares
- (speaks to silent voters shaping election outcomes)
What are Obama effects?
POTUS effects \(\neq\) “Bradley” (or “Wilder”) effects
- Obama effects = influence of their presence on race relations, politics, and governance
- (where threat and empowerment literatures merge)
The logic of Obama Effects
The Logic of Obama Effects
The outcome variables(s) include, but are not limited to:
- racial and/or gender attitudes
- coalition building
- policy advocacy
- media portrayals
- campaign dynamics
The Logic of Obama Effects
The preditor(s) include, but are not limited to:
- who they are (presence on the political scene)
- what they stand for (policy or governing platform)
- how they perform (as political agents)
The Logic of Obama Effects
The mediating variable(s) include, but are not limited to:
- their status as racial and/or gender role models
- perceptions of group threat
- racialized senses of political empowerment
The Logic of Obama Effects
The moderating variable(s) include, but are not limited to:
- social identity (race, gender, sexuality, etc.)
- demographic background (SES, region, etc.)
- political orientation (party, ideology, etc.)
Post vs. Most Racial America
Post vs. Most Racial America
- It is clear that the most racial story is most true
- But post racial storylines have been/continue to be seductive
- Why? What do our readings tell us about these post(most) racial America narratives?