Socio-economic and political environment of America - Essay Example

The last twenty years have seen tremendous changes in various areas of socio-economic and political environment of America. The racial differences of southern states that had significantly influenced the American politics during the late 1900 had gradually been redefined into new format of racism in the early twenty first century. The new racism highlighted the differences within the black community. Interestingly, the new racism also raised controversy vis-a-vis ‘old’ versus ‘new’ civil rights.

The civil liberation movement of Martin Luther King based on racial differences had turned into new racism where blacks started fighting within themselves. The black community seemed to be divided on the basis of sexuality. The homosexual blacks saw themselves as victims who were discriminated because of their sexuality. Most importantly, this new racism also became the major factor for the non discriminatory practices and bridged the racial differences between white and black community. The new conscious awareness vis-a-vis sexuality and gender helped realigned social forces and reduced the racial differences.

The participation of black community in the mainstream economy has seen trickle down effect. The empowerment of black community has become a reality and election of Barrack Obama as President is testament to the growing strength of blacks within and outside the American socio-political arena. The development of Rainbow Coalition as economic restructure for African Americans has become a key feature of trickle down economics that has helped black community to become economic partners in America society (Hines, pg. 591). Indeed, in the last twenty years, empowerment of black has transformed social dynamics of American society which jointly contributed towards the development of nation.

But unfortunately, the ‘down low’ culture of black men had focused on having multiple sexual partners cutting across genders. The black men secretly displayed homosexuality while having heterosexual relationships with different women. Thus, cases of HIV/AIDS became common amongst the black, especially women who had become innocent victim of black men who were having homosexual relationship with other black men. This is one of the major factors that had perhaps restrained the rate of development amongst the black community.

The education had helped to empower the community. But the wider implications of homophobia amongst the black men must be overcome to reduce sexually transmitted diseases like HIV/AIDS. The acceptance of sexuality based preferences must become acceptable within the community so that black men can openly claim their sexual preferences and thereby overcome their homophobia. President Reagan’s administration had significantly regressed the progress made in bringing the black community in the mainstream American society.

New racism that sidelined the contributions of black community became a fact during Reagan’s administration (Hine, 582-588). The whites were increasingly given preferences over blacks and black’s struggle for their rights were construed as violence against community. The subtle and not so subtle racial differences were unfortunate but the initiatives of later Presidents like Clinton and Obama had made huge impact on the changing social dynamics of new age America. Oprah Winfrey, Jesse Jackson, Barrack Obama have been few of the iconic black leaders who have helped to usher in new outlook towards the Afro American.

Indeed, twenty years later, the blacks have more voice in the American society and are making equal contribution in socio-economic and political development. (words: 542) Reference Readings as provided