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Hate, Bigotry, and the Fear of Change: Why Kamala Harris’s Candidacy Still Challenges America’s Old Order
The recent presidential election has left many in shock. Kamala Harris, a leader whose vision and policies resonated across diverse communities, seemed poised to make history. But despite the groundswell of support, Harris did not prevail — not because of her policy positions, which a majority favored, but because of something deeper and more troubling. For some, the idea of a Black, South Asian woman in the highest office was intolerable. It wasn’t her platform that people rejected; it was her identity. In this moment, the ugly reality of racial and gender bias reared its head, reminding us that whiteness still wields significant power in American politics, even against the tide of progress.
Addressing the “Obama Exception”
A common rebuttal arises: If we could elect Barack Obama, surely we’ve moved past these biases. Why should Harris’s identity be seen as a barrier? The election of Obama was, indeed, a milestone, but it was not a sign that America had transcended its racial divides. Obama’s presidency itself sparked a wave of reactionary backlash, particularly among those who felt his leadership threatened a status quo rooted in whiteness and traditional power structures. The reality is that, while his election marked…
