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Posted on Wed, Nov. 12, 2008

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Wichitans see a chance for racial healing in Obama's election

BY CHRISTINA M. WOODS

The Wichita Eagle

President-elect Barack Obama repeatedly called for unity and change during his historic campaign.

Because his candidacy stirred a national dialogue on race, several Wichitans said his win could result in richer and more diverse personal relationships for people of all backgrounds.

"This election is a great launching pad to have open discussions on race," said William Hoston, a Wichita State University assistant professor of political science, who is black.

Obama's ascendance also coincides with U.S. Census Bureau projections that minorities could compose the nation's majority in coming decades. Non-Hispanic whites are expected to drop from 66 percent of the population in 2008 to 46 percent in 2050.

"Unless white America is willing to embrace change," Hoston said, "race will continue to be a problem."

Still, Americans have high expectations of the president-elect's ability to mediate racial issues. In a recent USA Today/Gallup poll, 8 in 10 people surveyed said Obama will improve conditions for minorities and the poor, and 76 percent said he will increase respect for the United States abroad.

And the election offers signs of hope that efforts are under way to overcome racial rifts, Hoston and others said.

Black, Hispanic and Asian voters overwhelmingly supported Obama, who captured 43 percent of white people's votes, according to national exit polls reported by CNN.

Even though he didn't vote for Obama, Bob Weeks, an information technology consultant and blogger who is white, said he's happy to see that Obama's win tore down a barrier.

"I felt some sense of pride that Americans were able to vote for a man based upon his character rather than the color of his skin," he said. "I think that's a good thing for our country."

Common issues

People tend to overcome racial hang-ups when they're supporting the same issue, several Wichitans said.

Jaya Escobar said the economy was a driving issue that drew people together behind Obama, regardless of his race.

"When you're hurting people's pockets, they're getting involved," said Escobar, who works in the nonprofit industry and is Hispanic.

Other issues also can bring people together across racial divides. Fighting for social justice caused Fern Van Gieson, who is white, to join with several African-Americans to establish a local Urban League affiliate more than 50 years ago.

Van Gieson, who said she wanted to dance in the streets when Obama was elected, grew close enough to other charter members to consider them family.

"You care about the things that affect the people you love," said Van Gieson, 80. "Then you hope that you care about people beyond that."

Mark Ritchey, another Obama supporter, developed a heart for social justice while living in California and hearing labor and civil rights activist Cesar Chavez speak.

Frustrated by racial divides, Ritchey, who is white, joined the Wichita Branch NAACP after moving to Kansas.

"I really wanted to do something to show that black people and white people didn't need to fight all the time," said Ritchey, 66. "The NAACP was the major civil rights organization around so I joined in."

Ritchey said he now has 20 to 30 people he counts as "good friends" because of the NAACP.

Unity is strength

Racial tensions also seem to ease when people focus on the things they share in common, said the Rev. Sam Muyskens of Inter-Faith Ministries.

"We look for those common threads that hold all of us together, that are embedded deeply within us," said Muyskens, who is white, and whose organization has more than 100 diverse congregations among its membership.

Improved relationships can also benefit and strengthen businesses, the Urban League of Kansas and the Wichita Hispanic Chamber of Commerce are discovering.

The leaders of both organizations -- Chester Daniel of the Urban League and Abel Perez of the chamber -- serve on a local board together. The two furthered their connection by exploring ways for their organizations to better serve area Hispanics together.

Daniel said he also plans to collaborate with Zulma Toro-Ramos, dean of the College of Engineering at Wichita State University.

As he reflected on the election, Daniel quoted a Latin phrase that translates as "Unity is strength."

"I think that Barack Obama believes that there's value in other people, and that you can't do things alone," said Daniel, who is from Barbados.

Perez, who is Hispanic, agreed.

"We've got to join forces and work together in a positive manner; not negatively," he said.

If people focus on similarities rather than differences, Inter-Faith's Muyskens said, "we will find unity and a common thread that binds us all together."

"We are the leaders everyone has been waiting for," Muyskens added. "Not just Barack, but all of us."

Reach Christina M. Woods at 316-269-6791 or cwoods@wichitaeagle.com.