Historical Event: Journal Entry, Essay Example

I can still remember that many voters seemed to believe that Barack Obama was going to bring many changes to the U.S government if he was elected. In the years he has been President, it seems that he has not lived up to the expectations many voters had for him. At the same time, however, it also seems as if Barack Obama has had to face obstruction from Congress that has been much stronger and more forceful than some previous presidents have faced. Because President Obama was the first African-American elected to the office, it is understandable that many of the conversations the American people had had about him have involved race. Sadly, there has been significant evidence that race is still a major problem for the U.S., and it also seems clear that much of the opposition to Obama has had a racial component to it.

President Obama’s election was a signal to many Americans –of all races- that the white majority is becoming a thing of the past. Whites may still be the largest group of voters, but the number of African-American and Hispanic voters, for example, has grown significantly. This is a trend that is going to continue, and the two major political parties will have to decide how they choose to react to it. In the short term, it appears that the Republican Party is choosing to double down on trying to appeal to white voters and older voters, a strategy that may continue to win Congressional seats in many states, but that may also prove to be a challenge in terms of winning the White House. The long-term implications of President Obama’s victory are unclear, but his Presidency has made it clear that many of the racial, social, political, and economic Issues that divide Americans are going to remain firmly in place for years to come. The election of Obama seemed to signal a move towards a post-racial society, but over the years of his presidency, that belief has proven to be premature.