Chapter Five. It’s Real! Racism, Color Blindness, Obama, And The Urgent Need For Social Movement Politics

Abstract

This chapter addresses four things. First, the chapter criticizes the way-left, right, and center-racism is conceptualized. Second, it argues the fact that the dominant ideology of the modern world-system has mutated into an apparently non-racial, subtle, colorblind one. Yet, hidden within this color-blind Trojan horse, the new ideology is still all about the business of domination. Third, the chapter offers a critique of the Obama phenomenon and also argues that, more than anything else, it represents the culmination of 40 years of reshuffling of America's racial structure. Lastly, it adds the authors' voice and analysis to those who believe in the urgent need for revitalizing social movement politics in America and the world-and yes, as so many of you have articulated so eloquently today, new politics, yes, new forms of movements, and yes, new social actors. Keywords: Obama; racism; social movement politics