The Election of President Obama Essay Example

The election of President Obama could arguably go down in history as the best election because of the simple fact that he was elected as the first black president in the US, but that seemed to be his only achievement. President Obama’s election has not made a positive change with racial equality, why? Because racial tensions are still at an all time high. Since President’s Obama election in 2008, the number of fatal shootings of African Americans by white police officers has only increased, the number of hate crimes are at the highest level it has ever been at in 12 years, and racism in the workplace and other places or business is not getting any better. President Obama’s legacy will live on as the first black President, but his time as president has done nothing to help racial equality in the United States. 

First, police brutality has become a popular yet sensitive subject in America. Most of the time, it involves a white officer shooting a person of color. The main target of this brutality has been African Americans. 7 years after Obama’s election as president, white police officer Darren Wilson fatally shot Micheal Brown in Ferguson,Missouri. Obama stood behind the decision of the Justice Department to not charge the white police officer that killed Micheal Brown. Obama has also urged people to not become hostile to the police around the country because they have a ‘difficult job to do”. I can only imagine how people of color felt hearing him defend white police officers that have attacked people and also people who are victims of police attacks. Since then, many other tragic deaths at the hands of white police officers has ensued and riots  began to break out in various cities causing the birth of the “Black Lives Matter” movement.  The deaths of these innocent black men had little to no coverage from the President but had more coverage from social media. It also doesn't help that hate crimes have been at an all time high since Obama’s election. 

Additionally, former President Obama hasn't helped hate crimes in the US, In fact, it made it worse. According to eji.org, the FBI has reported hate crimes at the highest Level in 12 years. It can be proven that Obama’s election has made hate crimes rise over the years due to him being a black man. Examples include a Ecuadorian man stabbed to death in New York and two teenagers beating up a black man on the night of Obama’s election. Hate crimes that resulted from an individuals race increased tremendously from 2019 to 2020. Incidents went from 3,964 to 4,939 and the most victimized race throughout these attacks are Black and African Americans. Although it isn't President Obama's fault hate crimes have increased and are still persistent, he hasn't done anything significant to stop them. It seems like the bill that Obama signed back in 2009 that makes it a federal crime to assault an individual because of his/her sexual orientation or gender identity, trumps the black struggles and priorities the equality and safety of the LGBT community. Not only are racial tensions high with hate crimes, but racial inequality in the workplace is still at an all time high since Obama’s Presidency and changes haven't been made. 

Meanwhile, workers of color are being treated unfairly now more than ever since the election of former President Barack Obama. According to usnews.com, more than a third of black workers report being treated unfairly in the workplace in the past year because of their race/ethnicity. This is an important point to mention because Obama’s lack of protection for black workers can better describe why his Presidency did nothing to help racial quality. Back in 2014 Obama announced a plan to prohibit all employers from discriminating based on sexual orientation. This was argued because it opened up even more discrimination against workers of color due to them not being protected under any law and the former Presiden prioritizing the needs of the LGBT community and further ignoring black struggles. 

In summary, President Obama will always be known as our first black President of the United States, but what he done for racial equality? I wouldn't say he has made a positive impact but more of a negative one. He's ignored and defended white police officers killing innocent black men doing everyday tasks such as going to the store , or walking down the street and failed to properly support the Black Lives Matter movement. Since his presidency, racial hate crimes have sky rocketed and were worse now then they were when he first got elected resulting in crimes on election night. Former President Obama even failed to shed any light into workplace discrimination against workers of color and it is still happening today.I won't take away from all the amazing achievements he has done, but none of those have made a positive impact on racial equality.