Obama Treated to Racism in Pennsylvania

Being Barack Obama for one night of Halloween fun served to be quite a lesson this year. Just as men wear images of Batman or women as Hillary Clinton, I was excited to reflect my own hero, if only for a day. Though polls may indicate landslides for the Democratic candidate, Pennsylvania dinner tables and back yard discussions paint a different political picture. Men dressed as mass murders and young girls as ready-made prostitutes seemed much more acceptable American costumes, then images of a man who may be the first black president.

I decided to put aside the simple face painting of rainbows this year, to walk in character with my daughter for trick or treat. The first round of fun was in the Southern part of Pennsylvanian, in a town called Carmichaels. My daughter, a prize winning witch, and my Barack Obama costume, proudly began our day walking in the towns' local parade of children. As Obama, I was more than ready for the fun. Dressed in a jacket and American tie, I waited to hand pennies to onlookers. I planned to greet them with the campaign line "Vote for change!" However, my pockets remained full, and my day began with parents shunning me, while onlookers watched with disdain from the corner of their prejudicial eyes. Once the parade ended and my daughter and I began our walk back to the car I was greeted with a crowd of white men and women, children in tow, who referred to me as a "nigger lover" and a "terrorist". I contained myself for my daughter and the other children. Besides, with all of the people who found the comment a gut-bending laugh, I knew I would have no 'back up'! I was outraged and saddened as I left the town feeling like a masked plague.

I began the ride to the next small town, Connellsville, remembering the man who wore a KKK outfit to a costume party years ago, and how little people reacted, when they should have been disgusted.

On the ride to the next town, about an hour away, I decided to discard the previous comments and the feelings they left on me. I grew up in the town we were about to go door to door in. The people there were a bit more decent, if not more quiet about their prejudices. I was sure that at the least, no one would say a negative word, I was very wrong. It only took minutes into the walk to hear the first tailored made remark. "Obama sucks and so must your mother." The comment was from a 10 year old and his dad. I brushed it off, so he was a Republican, no need to hate back on the little man. Next, we approached a house that had two full bowls of candy in sight, but when my daughter and I approached, the woman said she was out of candy for people who thought it was cute to 'wear the mask of terrorist.' We walked on!

My daughter and I continued, while comments were whispered, grunts directed, disgust conveyed, and threats to throw rocks at me were made. I approached a house with a young white boy, his mother, and what appeared to be the boys African American friend. Though they gave my daughter candy, the black adolescent let me know, "We don't' give candy to fake niggers in these parts." I did not have enough time to decide what he meant, when my 7 year old said, 'But, mommy he's black, why is he mad at us instead?" Up the road and on, a man and his 4 sons told my daughter they felt bad for her, having to be with me, and thought I had a lot of nerve wearing the mask of a socialist (which he pronounced social-elite-ist). Later a man pulled his bowl back and handed one small candy to my daughter, after allowing the other children to grab fist of candy, with a smile. He starred with disgust into my mask and told the next father I was an idiot.

I stopped during the walk to ask my 7 year old if I was upsetting or embarrassing her. I did not see the problem, in fact, I was down right confused at the character, or lack there of, from each person who passed. Therefore, I inquired about the way she was feeling and asked if she would like me to remove the mask.. My daughter passionately replied, "No mommy, I love your mask, those people are dummies for not liking it because he's black" My daughter and my Barack Obama mask trudged on. Through out the afternoon I continued to receive stares and hateful looks, comments of nigger, terrorist lover, idiot, anti-American, and more. Nevertheless, the power to ignore and continue came from my daughter and one little 6-year-old girl dressed as an angel who said, "Oh your Barack Obama, I love him! You're the coolest!."

There are neighborhoods in Fayette County that have local trick or treat within the certain streets. They will give you many reasons, but get to know one person and they will tell you it is to keep the black kids away. Barack Obama will be subject to the same under handed tactics. Say one thing, do another, have ignorance and ugliness as your driving force, but never have the courage to let anyone know.

Yes, the polls may reflect a big win for Obama, but hateful cowards hide behind many polls in Pennsylvania. Growing up a mile for where local KKK groups met, I know the truth about racism in the Keystone state. There are upwards of 33 active white supremacy groups in Pennsylvania and thousands of single racist that hide hate in their homes. Racist flyers and Anti-Monkey for President campaigns have been infesting Pennsylvania. Chris Matthews recently remarked that while driving through PA he did not see one Barack Obama sign, but many McCain signs stood strong. The states governor told him it might have been the lack of campaigning in those areas. Yet, those of us who had signs know the whole truth; signs hung in support are constantly "lost" from properties, while those for McCain, that circle the same neighborhood, safely stand.

The old man at the local grocery will tell you he will not vote for a black man, and let his grandpa role over in his grave. The small town soccer mom will tell you her white kids are not going to be bullied by blacks, after a black president makes them all think they are better then us. Not all Pennsylvanians are racist, but there are enough to keep many towns all white, to make many races continue to feel like minorities. There are enough whites in PA, hid behind white robes and house curtains, to radically change the local polls on Election Day. One old timer summed up a vital mistake in the polling in PA. He said "If those people call me, hell yea I'll say I'm voting for Obama. But, no way in hell would I vote for a nigger to run my country. Let them think he will win if it will keep him outta here. Be great to see that black face turn white on Election Day when he finds out it was all a sham"

When so many white voters, male and female, young and old, rich and poor could draw so much anger from a simple costume...It lessons the surprise of their weeklong hate comments during the McCain rallies this month. I know a white woman having enough nerve to represent a black man in their towns amplified the anger of these Halloween scrooges. Some would say I should have known better, in fact one friend said just that, "You should have known better to wear that in all whites towns!" What is 'knowing better' in Pennsylvania? Is it hiding from support of a black candidate, from acceptance of a diverse country, or is it the basic common sense that we are all created equally, even with a mask on?

I am still proud of my Barack Obama mask, proud of the candidate, and proud of my daughter who knows truly knows better. In fact, if you live in PA, and would like to debate the race issue with me, you can find me on Election Day. I will be the one on Main Street, dancing my heart out, in the mask of the next and first African American President of the United States!