While these are just anecdotes and not polling data, this may give an indication to what Barack Obama, as the “black candidate” may see on the ground in Iowa. With the primaries right around the corner, questions of race are popping up.

Partly humorous/partly tragic, these examples show us just where we are as a country, even within a political party that claims to have a “big tent” philosophy where all are welcome (okay, I never believed that, either).

For example, at a gathering for John Edwards, Edwards fields a question from a member of the audience who questions if Obama were to be the president, would it open the doors to power for Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton and Oprah Winfrey. I won’t even go into why I find this both stupid and offensive. But, suffice it to say, the white paranoia regarding Jackson and Sharpton was worn a decade ago. Now, it’s just threadbare.

The next example speaks more to what I call the “I have a friend theory.” Another person at a prior Edwards gathering stated that she doesn’t have a problem voting for a black person. Then she went on to say “(b)ut you hear a lot the other way; we’re pretty white around here, you know.” In other words, although she could vote for a black person, she “has friend” whose prejudices would prevent them from doing so.

Honestly, this is no surprise. As black people, we are keenly aware of how some folks (including some black folks) have a problem with black people being in positions of power. Well, in a few weeks, we’ll see what being a black candidate in Iowa means.

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