September 3, 2008
I am neither black nor white. I am somewhere in between. What the Americans might call "coloured" and back in my country India "sunburnt". Please don't go by my profile photograph: Its thankfully very airbrushed.
And why am I telling you this? Well, it seems that it does matter in United States of America. A nuclear superpower, one of the fastest and ever-booming economy which will elect its 44th President in November seems to be struggling with a fundamental issue: the colour of skin. God Bless America!
It seems strange that a country which has always taken pride in being a "role model" for the world is struggling with race. When one watches the Barack Obama vs John McCain slugfest from a distance, it seems a regular tough fight with issues like economy, inflation, unemployment, war on Iraq, climate change and nuclear proliferation.
At least it seemed so from India. It did not look like a fight between a Black and a White man. Social scientists and political observers see the same trend. Lawrence R Jacobs, Director, Center for the Study of Politics and Governance at University of Minnesota, says there are scientific studies which show that Democrat candidates have not done well with white men. They still have to gauge whether Obama does worse than any other white Democrat candidate. As you see there is no precedent so far of a Black man running for the highest constitutional office. Jacobs doesn't mince any words: "Race is a big factor."
It sure is. Why else would a motley group of WPI fellows - all different shapes, sizes, colour and nationalities - enter a bus on University Avenue and face rude comments from African-American passengers like "Please don't stand close to me, I might pick your pocket." Or "I have never seen so many white people together. They must have run away from Mexico."
OUCH. Correction: I am sunburnt. Not white. And quite comfortable in my skin.
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