Black Americans Feel Less Empowered Under Obama Than They Once Did

[bonnie]

Study: Black Americans Feel Less Empowered Under Obama Than They Once Did

By Elizabeth Flock

October 17, 2012

Four years after Barack Obama was elected president, this is not exactly a "post-racial" America.

A new study from Washington University in St. Louis finds that under Obama, many black Americans feel less free than whites when it comes to political participation.

[sEE: Political Cartoonists Take On President Obama]

From 2005 to 2011, only 45 percent of blacks said they believed the government would allow them to make a public speech, while 67 percent of whites believed they could, the study found.

The study found that while the election of Obama initially boosted feelings of political empowerment among black Americans, those sentiments significantly faded in the years that followed—especially among conservative and religious blacks.

These two groups make up a large segment of the black population, with 56 percent of blacks identifying as "born again," and 39 percent of blacks as "somewhat conservative," according to the study.

"First we saw the 'empowerment effect,' the boost that happens when a member of your group gets elected to an important political position," says study author James L. Gibson, a professor of government and African-American studies at Washington University. Gibson's findings are based on national surveys conducted between 2005 and 2011.

A new study from Washington University in St. Louis finds that under Obama, many black Americans feel less free than whites when it comes to political participation.

In 2009, the year after Obama was elected, 71 percent of blacks reported feeling as free to speak one's mind as they used to.

[READ: U.S. News' Comprehensive Town Hall Debate Coverage]

"But then perceptions of political freedom deteriorated among conservative and religious blacks," says Gibson. By 2011, the percentage of blacks who felt as free to speak their mind had dropped to 56 percent, back to pre-Obama levels. (White Americans also reported feeling less free to speak one's mind under Obama, but the decline was far less than among blacks).

In part, says Gibson, this can be attributed to "ideological polarization." That split may have begun when Obama dismissed Pennsylvania voters in 2008 who "cling to guns or religion." But Gibson says many conservative and religions blacks likely believed when Obama was first elected that he would protect their interests as president. "Race produces a level of trust and confidence that one is on your side," he says.

Over time, that confidence eroded. Gibson cites the contraception debate between the White House and some religious leaders that erupted last year. Black Americans, he notes, are traditionally conservative on social issues.

[READ: Obama Counters Lackluster Debate Performance with Highly-Charged Rally]

Another schism may have centered on gay marriage. The Democratic-leaning Coalition of African-American Pastors, for example, recently said they felt "marginalized" and "ignored" by Obama's seemingly sudden support for same-sex marriage.

Religious fundamentalists and conservative blacks, Gibson says, "have seen their efforts to participate in public life [under Obama] being thwarted over and over and over again."

[Guest]

Yep

[Gibs]

I think they've found Obama is not their kind of black.

[bonnie]

I think they've found Obama is not their kind of black.

I am still back at the ranch trying to figure out what is so special about skin color.Black,white or anything else.

[Gibs]

Me too bonnie on skin color, but with Obama he may be dark skin color but many say he is a Muslim. That puts him out of the ballpark for many I think. He and Romney are both out the ballpark for me.

[bonnie]

Me too bonnie on skin color, but with Obama he may be dark skin color but many say he is a Muslim. That puts him out of the ballpark for many I think. He and Romney are both out the ballpark for me.

Two viable candidates is our political system.While I have some reservations about Romney being conservative enough if he should win,I have no reservation about Obama. He told us before he was elected who he was and everyone thought that was great,now many have buyer's remorse.

Is he a Muslim? Possible I suppose,but not a very upfront one if he is.It is obvious he is a Muslim sympathizer.My personal opinion is Obama would not be constrained by any religious belief if it got in the way of the absolute power I believe he wants and had visions of

[Gibs]

I think Israel wants it to be Mitt and I figure that's how it will be, we'll go to war quickly then for them is my see and this Netanyahu wants.

[bonnie]

I think Israel wants it to be Mitt and I figure that's how it will be, we'll go to war quickly then for them is my see and this Netanyahu wants.

Highly doubtful that Israel will be electing the president of the US.

[lazarus]

You guys are real comedians. You could could get on comedy central.

[Gibs]

Israel wields more power than most know, Israel gets what Israel wants most of the time. The US has armed them with enough neuclear to burn it up over there.

We should have went to war with them over the USS Liberty, any other country we would have I do believe.

The big policeman of the world is totally broke and owes our soul now to other countries and TPTB system that our economy is going to crash in the near future.

They've forstalled it long by printing trillions of paper $ and it is just going to make the crash far greater when it does come, but it will come, I think more is being printed now. The more they print the less it is worth.

We can't afford no war with any and here we have over 700 military bases worldwide that the cost of each is phenomenal. Now they don't want to take good care of the vererans. Every thing is broke, medicare, SS, the postal service, and more, how much further the momentum of what has been the largest economy in the world which is no more and never will be again.

I know that is not a popular view but watch it, it is going to be bad and I MEAN BAD!

It has looked like for some time that 2013 will be the year the breakdown will begin to hit hard.

Bonnie I see by your signature sentence you rally in your freedom and the right to own firearms. Well I'm sure with you 100%. I have been a hunter of game and in the beginning of my life, 81 now, we lived by what I brought in to a good extent by the game and fish I brought home.

Well we will be cleaned of our freedom, guns and money. Knowing this I sold all my guns but one for home protection and yes they will come for it and I'll have to give it up. They about got my money cleaned out too and so it will get scarce around here before long if I live very long at all.

I still was able to garden this yr and that helps a lot, winter here soon in Ohio and hope I still am able in spring. I do gardening the "back to eden way"

Blessings to all.

[bonnie]

Israel wields more power than most know, Israel gets what Israel wants most of the time. The US has armed them with enough nuclear to burn it up over there.

We should have went to war with them over the USS Liberty, any other country we would have I do believe.

The big policeman of the world is totally broke and owes our soul now to other countries and TPTB system that our economy is going to crash in the near future.