The Obama Dilemma: Confronting Race in the Twenty-First Century

This article looks at the persistence of neo-Confederate rhetoric in contemporary US politics and three issues in particular that have strong racial dimensions: healthcare reform, voter registration and the incident that became known as 'Gatesgate'. It argues that race informs debates on healthcare and the role of government. Furthermore, these debates are unfolding at a time of profound demographic change that, by mid-century, will transform the United States into a majority-minority nation for the first time in its history. The article also examines the ways in which Obama is constricted in confronting race rhetorically and in terms of public policy.