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Prejudices run deep in US elections Prejudices run deep in US elections
(about 7 hours later)
As Barack Obama surges ahead in the opinion polls, Stephen Evans hears from white working class people in crucial swing states as to whether they will be voting for a black president.As Barack Obama surges ahead in the opinion polls, Stephen Evans hears from white working class people in crucial swing states as to whether they will be voting for a black president.
Charlie Brown always had the prize snatched away at the last momentCharlie Brown always had the prize snatched away at the last moment
As in so many things, Charles M. Schulz got it right.As in so many things, Charles M. Schulz got it right.
He, you may remember, was the cartoonist who created Charlie Brown whose idea of happiness was to kick the football his friend Lucy held upright on the ground for him, except that she invariably removed it at the very last moment.He, you may remember, was the cartoonist who created Charlie Brown whose idea of happiness was to kick the football his friend Lucy held upright on the ground for him, except that she invariably removed it at the very last moment.
Learning from repeated experience, Charlie came to expect the prize to be snatched away at the very last moment.Learning from repeated experience, Charlie came to expect the prize to be snatched away at the very last moment.
You detect the same weary mind set when you talk to black people about the possibility of Barack Obama winning the election and so the White House.You detect the same weary mind set when you talk to black people about the possibility of Barack Obama winning the election and so the White House.
I sat one morning in Tom's Diner in Brooklyn and literally chewed the fat with four friends in their 70s and 80s, men who had lived through real, in-their-face discrimination and insult, and who now dared to hope that a fellow black man might be president.I sat one morning in Tom's Diner in Brooklyn and literally chewed the fat with four friends in their 70s and 80s, men who had lived through real, in-their-face discrimination and insult, and who now dared to hope that a fellow black man might be president.
Voicing doubtVoicing doubt
Alfred Waters, Henry Meltz, Harold Goodridge and Calvin Carrion worked together for decades and some of them go back even further to school days together.Alfred Waters, Henry Meltz, Harold Goodridge and Calvin Carrion worked together for decades and some of them go back even further to school days together.
At their regular Thursday meeting, on the end table, under the open, breezy window, the conversation ebbs and flows softly.At their regular Thursday meeting, on the end table, under the open, breezy window, the conversation ebbs and flows softly.
One says he never thought he would live to see the day, but now he can die happy because he knows, he knows, that Barack Obama is going to win.One says he never thought he would live to see the day, but now he can die happy because he knows, he knows, that Barack Obama is going to win.
One black voter in his 70s said he could die happy if Obama winsOne black voter in his 70s said he could die happy if Obama wins
But then others voice doubt. It might yet be snatched away, they feel.But then others voice doubt. It might yet be snatched away, they feel.
"There is no certainty of anything in life but, as a black man, never let your guard down," one said."There is no certainty of anything in life but, as a black man, never let your guard down," one said.
"We have to be very strong and keep politicking until the day of the election.""We have to be very strong and keep politicking until the day of the election."
Not that all black people assume that a President Obama would be a good thing. I met Carol Swain at another diner, the Loveless Cafe on Route 100, in Tennessee, named after the family who founded it, by the way, and not its atmosphere.Not that all black people assume that a President Obama would be a good thing. I met Carol Swain at another diner, the Loveless Cafe on Route 100, in Tennessee, named after the family who founded it, by the way, and not its atmosphere.
PrejudicesPrejudices
Carol was all for McCain on the grounds that his policies would be better for all, including black people. Carol is a professor of law in Nashville and ultra quiet until she gets going on politics.Carol was all for McCain on the grounds that his policies would be better for all, including black people. Carol is a professor of law in Nashville and ultra quiet until she gets going on politics.
I found her unpredictability refreshing. After all, to assume that all black people want a black president would be racist, would it not?I found her unpredictability refreshing. After all, to assume that all black people want a black president would be racist, would it not?
Which brings me to a Saturday morning school carnival in Akron, Ohio, where, I met a white man.Which brings me to a Saturday morning school carnival in Akron, Ohio, where, I met a white man.
Voter Ed Bogavich is a rarity by voicing his prejudicesVoter Ed Bogavich is a rarity by voicing his prejudices
Ed Bogavich sat with his wife at his side and dog on his lap in front of his souped up, shiny Model T. Ed told me he was not going to vote for a negro, his word.Ed Bogavich sat with his wife at his side and dog on his lap in front of his souped up, shiny Model T. Ed told me he was not going to vote for a negro, his word.
After all, whites were superior, and Obama was a Muslim and an Arab.After all, whites were superior, and Obama was a Muslim and an Arab.
I challenged him with prefect politeness, but I might as well have been arguing with a stone. Mr Bogavich was never going to be moved.I challenged him with prefect politeness, but I might as well have been arguing with a stone. Mr Bogavich was never going to be moved.
The question is how many more of them are out there, particularly in unionised, Democrat-tending, rust-belt America like Ohio.The question is how many more of them are out there, particularly in unionised, Democrat-tending, rust-belt America like Ohio.
Ed Bogavich is rare in that he speaks his prejudices out loud.Ed Bogavich is rare in that he speaks his prejudices out loud.
The other night, I was out rummaging in the big waste bins outside my cheap, chain hotel, as you do.The other night, I was out rummaging in the big waste bins outside my cheap, chain hotel, as you do.
Important bits of paper had been thrown out, receipts if you must know, and I had sought the help of the over-night security guard, a white man, low on the economic scale.Important bits of paper had been thrown out, receipts if you must know, and I had sought the help of the over-night security guard, a white man, low on the economic scale.
As I rummaged, he talked. Anybody but the black man was the message, though I kept pressing him why.As I rummaged, he talked. Anybody but the black man was the message, though I kept pressing him why.
He could never quite say it but the feeling was clear. In the end, he blurted out defensively that it was because Obama himself was a racist.He could never quite say it but the feeling was clear. In the end, he blurted out defensively that it was because Obama himself was a racist.
We're about to see just how deep race cuts in this country Harold Ickes, former deputy chief of staff to President Bill ClintonWe're about to see just how deep race cuts in this country Harold Ickes, former deputy chief of staff to President Bill Clinton
'Bradley effect''Bradley effect'
It is not just white, working class people in Rust Belt towns. A black friend of mine in New York, a socialite who dines in the richest circles, complained to me that he was looking hard at his own white friends whose difficulties with Obama seemed to revolve around blackness.It is not just white, working class people in Rust Belt towns. A black friend of mine in New York, a socialite who dines in the richest circles, complained to me that he was looking hard at his own white friends whose difficulties with Obama seemed to revolve around blackness.
Now, there is something called the Bradley effect, named after Tom Bradley, the black mayor of Los Angeles who lost the election to become governor of California in 1982 even though the exit polls had predicted a victory, the theory being that white people told the pollsters one thing but voted another.Now, there is something called the Bradley effect, named after Tom Bradley, the black mayor of Los Angeles who lost the election to become governor of California in 1982 even though the exit polls had predicted a victory, the theory being that white people told the pollsters one thing but voted another.
But this week, one of Mr Bradley's organisers said it was much more complicated than that.But this week, one of Mr Bradley's organisers said it was much more complicated than that.
The polls had simply failed to measure all shades of opinion because they had not taken enough account of absentee ballots.The polls had simply failed to measure all shades of opinion because they had not taken enough account of absentee ballots.
And Mr Obama does remain far enough ahead in most polls to over-ride any Bradley effect, if any there be. But polls move and prejudices run deep, even as younger America seems increasingly colour-blind.And Mr Obama does remain far enough ahead in most polls to over-ride any Bradley effect, if any there be. But polls move and prejudices run deep, even as younger America seems increasingly colour-blind.
One of the people at the heart of the Clinton White House, Harold Ickes, told me, "We're about to see just how deep race cuts in this country."One of the people at the heart of the Clinton White House, Harold Ickes, told me, "We're about to see just how deep race cuts in this country."
And he is right. Will Lucy snatch the ball away again? We are about to find out.And he is right. Will Lucy snatch the ball away again? We are about to find out.
From Our Own Correspondent was broadcast on Saturday, 25 October, 2008 at 1130 BST on BBC Radio 4. Please check the programme schedules for World Service transmission times. From Our Own Correspondent was broadcast on Saturday, 25 October, 2008 at 1130 BST on BBC Radio 4. Please check the class="inlineText" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/from_our_own_correspondent/7143833.stm">programme schedules for World Service transmission times.