Thanks so much for reminding us of the practice behind one key element white racism is about: divergent opinions. Obama saying “I don’t want an echo chamber” really shows how the practice of a real president should be, along with his dignity and race. The opposite practice embedded in white racism in Loyalty. Trump demands loyalty. He doesn’t want disagreement when he’s made up his mind.
And yes, Trump had it in for Obama because Obama was a black American for 7 years leading up to the election, repeating endlessly about the birth certificate, a trope meant to evoke hostility towards Obama and hatred toward “black rule.” After the Civil War when black Americans organized to vote and vote, the endless ropes used in speeches and writing by white conservatives in the Confederate South were against “The Negro Rule” and “Africanization.” That lasted until the 1950s, when the idea became settled into the time worn phrase, “the negro should know his place.” Or as Supreme Court Justice James Byrnes said back then, “This is a white man’s country, and will always remain a white man’s country.”
The hatred runs so deep it’s hard to fathom. But Reagan, like Trump, repeated the “black rule” idea manifested in a different catch phrase starting the early 70s, “the welfare queen.” He repeated it for 7 years like Trump did with his birther controversy—also until he won. Great reminder of how quickly perceptive and open minded Obama was compared to Trump, completely closed minded with only room for one in their, himself.
Thanks much and best wishes. Your perceptive insights are needed now more than ever.