The Countown: Day 23: "Majority-Minority" America

I don't have the zen to accept every moment of my life for what it is. Right now, I am having a hard time avoiding fear, specifically fear of the racial ugliness bubbling up during this election.

I've interviewed Klanspeople and other white supremacists; dealt with the inevitable slings and arrows of being a black woman in America; even found out at one point that one of my supervisors told a white employee that I took his job because of affirmative action.

It's just part of the game, right?

Well, it still stings. Seeing a guy wave around a Curious George doll at a McCain event is one thing. You can chalk that up to gleeful racist mischief... i.e., mean, but stupid.

Seeing Meet the Press, which actually has a black contributors, pretzel itself this week trying to discuss race without any guests of color was tougher.

It's not that black people (or Asians, Native Americans or Latinos) are the only folks who can talk about race. Far from it. It's just that having an all-white panel during a turning point week in the discussion of race in America is a sign that we in the media still need a little help.

The discussion would have been stronger with a good black commentator. (The clip from guest Ted Koppel's documentary "The Last Lynching," which airs tomorrow on the Discovery Channel, was intriguing though.)

It's nice that the term The Bradley Effect has become, once again, a key part of the American political lexicon. But that term has, over time, come to underplay the strong and irrational currents of emotion that exist around race and, dare I use the word, change.

Despite the polls trending in one pro-Obama direction, the outcome of this race is not written yet, nor should it be. I'm not just talking about the change that a black President could bring. I'm talking about the ongoing demographic change that will bring America, by the Census's latest estimates, a nation without a racial majority circa the year 2042.

In some ways, it's that change that undergirds this nation's fears and insecurities. The year that America becomes "majority minority" may be off, but that change of demographics is going to come.

Nearly a decade ago, I wrote a book called The Color of Our Future that charted that change (predicted, back then, to happen in the year 2050). I talked to teens because I find teens refreshingly unguarded compared to older adults when it comes to talking about race, and also because many of them will be alive when this demographic shift occurs. The cultural shift is occurring far ahead of the actual demographic shift ... and that's got some folks in full flip out mode.

I just found out that my book is going to be excerpted, yet again, in a college reader. It's gratifying to know that although the statistics I talked about have changed, the underlying question of how we will react to the idea of a nation where white Americans are no longer a majority is more pressing than ever.

How will we will evolve emotionally and spiritually as we evolve politically and demographically? Are we prepared to open up, or will we devolve into name calling and a blame game about our problems?

The face of America is changing, but are we ready and are we willing to communicate freely and respectfully during this transition? That's a question that won't be answered on November 4th.

-- Farai Chideya

1:11 PM ET | permalink

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Barack 'Osama' Appears On Ballots In New York

Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama speaks during a rally in Colombus, Ohio, on October 10, 2008.

Emmanuel Dunand, AFP/Getty Images

Whether it's a mistake or something more nefarious, "Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama's last name is spelled "Osama" on hundreds of absentee ballots mailed out this week to voters in Rensselaer County."

The Times Union has more:

The misspelling, which elections officials on both sides of the aisle insist was simply a typo, is causing embarrassment for the county.

''No question this is an honest mistake innocently done,'' said Edward McDonough, the Democratic commissioner. ''We catch almost everything.''

... One Sand Lake resident who caught the misspelling, and who asked to remain anonymous, was skeptical.

''It's a little suspicious and at least grossly incompetent,'' the voter said. "If I crossed out the name and wrote in the right spelling my ballot would be invalid."

What do you think?

-- Geoffrey Bennett

Tags: Barack Obama | Barack Osama

5:40 PM ET | permalink

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Sharpton Convicted; Aretha Takes On Tina; Magic Rips 'Faked AIDS'

Setting political and financial news headlines aside for a minute ...

Magic Johnson Rips Radio Hosts Who Said He 'Faked AIDS'

Minneapolis radio hosts Chris Baker and Langdon Perry ... attempted to make this joke at Magic Johnson's expense. Listen for yourself to their ridiculously insensitive comments.

Rev. Al Sharpton Convicted In Sean Bell Protest

The Rev. Al Sharpton and seven others who disrupted traffic in protest over the Sean Bell verdict were found guilty of disorderly conduct Wednesday.

Questioner: 'I Actually Did Know' Fannie

Oliver Clark, the man who McCain said probably didn't know what Fannie Mae was before the financial crisis, just posted the following on his Facebook page: "Well Senator, I actually did. I like to think of myself as a fairly intelligent person. I have a bachelor degree in Political Science from Tennessee State, so I try to keep myself up to date with current affairs."

Battle of the Divas: Tina vs. Aretha

Says Aretha Franklin: "I have always appreciated what Tina Turner has to offer and had quietly cheered her on after Ike and her subsequent success. However, with respect to her statement concerning my ego (in saying, 'Her ego must be so big to think she was the only one ... that's how queens are') clearly she was talking about herself as she described herself as the 'Queen of Rock' and saying 'that's what Queens do' -- particularly since she does not have a clue as to who I am in view of the fact that we have never met."

Well then ...

-- Geoffrey Bennett

Tags: Al Sharpton | Aretha Franklin | Tina Turner

2:14 PM ET | permalink

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The Legacy Of Allensworth As Told By A One-Time Resident

In 1908, the town of Allensworth, California became the first town in the state to be founded and funded by African Americans. Ed Pope was a one-time resident of the town and a passionate advocate for its preservation.

Mr. Pope passed away in September. Throughout his life, Mr. Pope worked tirelessly to preserve the town and helped establish the Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park in 1974.

His interview was excerpted from, "Land of Promise: The Story of Allensworth," a film produced, directed and written by Pam Harris. Tune into Monday's show for more.

-- Geoffrey Gardner

1:57 PM ET | permalink

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The Countdown: Days 27 + 26 : Information Overload

My e-mail box is more popular than a celebrity-owned nightclub. Everyone and their grandmother is hitting me up with articles and exhortations about the election.

Information forwarded by e-mail cannot be tracked in the same way an online article can. You can use counters to say how many people have gone to look at a certain article online, and how long they stayed. But when people cut and paste information into e-mails, it's hard to know how many people have seen what and what was forwarded to whom and how many people cut and pasted the whole thing or just snippets. Whew.

An Emmy-award-winning techie friend of mine, Richard Cardran, introduced me to the concept of a folksonomy. A taxonomy is a clearly regulated and delineated system of hierarchical organization, like genus and species. A folksonomy is when individuals use metatags or other ways of marking Web pages and other content online, and then people follow those trails. (Read more here.) I'm interested in how email trails fit into folksonomy.

Anyway, here, in no particular order, are stories that have been e-mailed to me by news organizations, friends, etc.

(I am making this count for two days because I was information overloaded, of course.)

Biden Calls Latest Attacks On Obama Dangerous

Excerpt:

At an event yesterday in Bethlehem, Pa., McCain's remarks about Obama were peppered with shouts of "socialist"; "terrorist"; and "liar."

"We've all heard what he's said," McCain said of Obama. "But it's less clear what he's done, or what he will do."

"No-bama! No-bama!" the crowd chanted in reply.

We had Earl Ofarai Hutchinson on today to talk about his column, "Why Eight Million (or More) African-Americans Are Unregistered":

According to Census figures there were 28 million African-American adults aged 18 or over in 2006. In the 2004 presidential election they made up 12 percent of the voters, or about 13 million voters. That means an estimated 15 million voting age blacks did not vote. The ban on ex felon voting in 15 states further ramps up the number of ineligible blacks. 40 percent of ex-felons banned from the polls are black males. They make up another three million potential black voters. That means an estimated 12 million African-American adults who are either officially barred from voting or decline to vote.

The reason that so many blacks don't vote is chalked up to apathy, laziness, ignorance and cynicism toward politicians. By not voting, the critics say, they betray the struggle and sacrifice of those who fought and in some cases died for the right of blacks to vote. This guilt laden reprimand is much too simplistic.

And from the "is is sourced enough?" column: the liberal superblog Daily Kos is reverbing a story, which says beggar-bankers Wachovia are hurting for cash, yet lending it to the National Republican Committee.

Wachovia Corp., a once-thriving financial giant now teetering on the brink of collapse, confirmed today that it was extending an $8 million loan to the cash-strapped National Republican Congressional Committee for last-minute activites to support GOP House candidates.

Wachovia's decision to lend money to the NRCC -- itself reeling from a damaging financial scandal earlier this year -- is sure to draw charges of favoritism, as Wachovia denies credit and freezes assets for thousands of other customers.

Allegations of favoritism are especially delicate for Wachovia, given the company's disproportionate support of Republican campaigns and organizations.

We'll see if this one gets more investigation and confirmation.

-- Farai Chideya

12:03 PM ET | permalink

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Voters Being Steered Away From The Polls?

As Election Day draws near, so too do fears of voter disenfranchisement.

On today's show, Farai spoke with Earl Ofari Hutchinson and Melanie Campbell of the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation about the nature of black voting patterns and whether there are still ways to steer black voters away from the polls.

Two stories in the news today are noteworthy:

According to the New York Times, "tens of thousands of eligible voters in at least six swing states have been removed from the rolls or have been blocked from registering in ways that appear to violate federal law, according to a review of state records and Social Security data."

The article continues:

... because Democrats have been more aggressive at registering new voters this year, according to state election officials, any heightened screening of new applications may affect their party's supporters disproportionately. The screening or trimming of voter registration lists in the six states -- Colorado, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, Nevada and North Carolina -- could also result in problems at the polls on Election Day: people who have been removed from the rolls are likely to show up only to be challenged by political party officials or election workers, resulting in confusion, long lines and heated tempers.

Meanwhile, the Nevada office of ACORN, an organization which registers low-income people to vote, was raided this week over allegations of voter fraud. As reported in the Las Vegas Review-Journal, "state authorities ... allege that its canvassers falsified forms with bogus names, fake addresses or famous personalities."

A Domino's pizza worker tells the New York Post "he'd registered to vote '10 to 15' times after canvassers for ACORN, whose political wing has endorsed Barack Obama, relentlessly pursued him and others."

-- Geoffrey Bennett

Tags: ACORN | voting | voting rights

11:58 AM ET | permalink

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'Economics For Dummies' ... And For You, Too

For Dummies

On today's show, Farai spoke with professor Sean Flynn, author of the book, Economics for Dummies.

If you have questions about your own financial well-being or you're mystified by how the American economy works, be sure to listen to the segment.

Then, click here to read an excerpt from the book, amended specifically for News & Notes listeners.

-- Geoffrey Bennett

Tags: economy

4:47 PM ET | permalink

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Did McCain Refuse to Shake Obama's Hand After the Debate?

Following last night's second presidential debate, pundits and political watchers are weighing in. The consensus: It wasn't a true town hall meeting and the candidates didn't beak new ground. Most polls -- including our own unscientific one -- indicate Barack Obama came out ahead.

Get your fill of post-debate analysis here.

One lingering question: Did John McCain refuse to shake Barack Obama's hand after the debate? You be the judge.

UPDATE: Not only a handshake ... but a hug.

-- Geoffrey Bennett

Tags: Barack Obama | John McCain | hand shake

11:42 AM ET | permalink

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That One ...

A sign of the times. No sooner than John McCain referred to Barack Obama as "that one" ... someone bought the URL ...

http://www.thatone08.com/

-- Geoffrey Bennett

Tags: Barack Obama | John McCain | that one

1:40 AM ET | permalink

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Who Won The Town Hall Presidential Debate?

-- Geoffrey Bennett

Tags: Barack Obama | John McCain | presidential debate

11:19 PM ET | permalink

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