I was hesitant to bring this issue up on the blog as I know that many of you reading this blog might not see the relevance of what I am about to post in regards to higher education. As well as that it is a political topic and well, when politics are brought up, it generally means disagreements are bound to happen. However, one topic that I feel we haven’t talked a lot about in this class is race and how this is still a hot topic at universities across the country. Whether you believe it or not, racism is still alive and well and what I am going to write about is just one example of how it is still happening today in the US.
On a social justice list serv that I am on, someone brought to the groups attention about how the President is addressed on The Chronicle and in other print media in comparison to former presidents. Someone on the list serv had collected articles from the Chronicle of Higher Education where President Obama was referred to and/or quoted. She found that President Obama was referred to as Mr. Obama and not President Obama in most cases. She did a quick search for President Bush and then President Obama. The items that came up for President Bush actually stated President Bush. Unfortunately, for President Obama things came up as Barack Obama or Mr. Obama (and these were things written about him after he was elected), and there were only a few that came up that actually stated President Obama.
There was a lot of discussion on this list serv about if she addressed this with The Chronicle editor and she said that she did write a letter to the editor sharing her disappoint in the publication and concern that this could be due to the race of President Obama. I just wanted to bring this to everyone’s attention as I feel it is a relevant topic as we continue to see hate towards President Obama and his policies as the health care reform discussions continue along with other hot topics within the political sphere. Many people simply do not like President Obama because of his race and/or ethnicity. I also understand that some don’t like him because of his beliefs and values. No matter what your politics are or who you voted for, the President of the USA should be called that. Not Mister or Sir, but President.
If the President of the United States of America is not getting the respect and prestige that he deserves because of his race, how are others from underrepresented groups going to feel? As a country we need to be more accepting as a whole, and the more I reflect on this, I think it really comes down to what we each can do within our own sphere of influence to create change. In relation to higher education, we all have the ability to empower and support students from all underrepresented groups, not just race. So, what are we doing to support these students to help them succeed, not just personally, but professionally and academically too?
Thanks Erin--Night after night I watch the news and observe how the President is referred to as Mr. Obama, and I have become increasingly irked over it. I have few recollections of Bush being addressed this way and felt it is another layer of racism in action. CNN, Fox, local stations...they're all guilty of this.
ReplyDeleteThanks Laura. I am glad that other people are realizing this is happening too. It makes me so angry... and to think, people think racism no longer exists in our country.
ReplyDeleteOooh, this is a hot topic! Nice job again. I could not agree more that professional publications and media should be required to address the President as so. Even though I feel that it is quite disrespectful for anyone to refer him otherwise, I do still feel that civilians have the freedom of speech and can refer to him with liberty of words. This just goes to display one's true feelings towards another and quickly tells more about them than the person they are addressing. I just recently watched a video of a Greeley Sergeant who would not answer the call to duty until "Mr.Barack H. Obama" showed his proof of birth certificate..
ReplyDeleteOur country has a past steeped in regret, evil, and ignorance. It saddens me to see it so exposed as if nothing has changed. It angers me that those who should know better (higher ed settings, news reporters, police) perpetuate the cycle of evil.
ReplyDeleteThe comment about the Greeley Sergeant makes me so angry. I am sure he has never said that about one of our former white presidents. So ignorant. And if we have people like him in positions of power, the cycle will continue and be perpetuated.
ReplyDeleteI also agree that people have the right to freedom of speech, but someone who is a public figure such as this person, who is employed by the government, should have a little more respect for the president.
Erin,
ReplyDeleteI cannot tell you how much I loved reading this post. I am glad others are seeing this and it's not me being "too sensative" in bringing this issue up. I have even switched to different evening news programs that deliver the respect to our president.