Written By: Nathan Ecarma
Managing Editor
President Barack Obama’s campaign used the issue of racial reconciliation as a platform when he ran for office in 2008. He marketed himself as a unifier and antidote for the racial division in America. Who can forget his “Yes, We Can” speech? He roused the crowd by promising, “Yes we can to justice and equality. Yes we can to opportunity and prosperity. Yes we can heal this nation. Yes we can repair this world.”
Obama believes he has fulfilled his avowed duty as racial reconciliatory: “Now, I’ve lived long enough to know that race relations are better than they were 10, or 20, or 30 years ago, no matter what some folks say. You can see it not just in statistics, you see it in the attitudes of young Americans across the political spectrum.”
Even though Obama believes America’s dark stain has been partially cleansed, most Americans disagree with him. According to a Rasmussen poll, 50% of American adults believe “race relations in this country are getting worse.” The percentage has grown substantially, as a poll taken in January 2014 reported only 30%. Another poll, from Gallup, reports 35% of Americans explain a feeling of angst when asked about race relations in America. The percentage has doubled since 2014.
Furthermore, “10, or 20, or 30 years ago” there were no violent riots, such as the ones in Baltimore, Ferguson, or Charlotte, where crowds chanted horrifically as they destroyed their city. There were no crowds chanting, “What do we want? Dead cops! When do we want it? Now!” No disabled white 18-year-olds were brutally tortured and told “F‑‑‑ white people.” No police officers were massacred because someone “wanted to kill white people, especially police officers.”
Instead of mourning the death of five Police Officers from the Dallas Massacre, Obama said, “And also saying that there are problems across our criminal justice system. There are biases, some conscious and unconscious that have to be rooted out.”
John Goodman, from Townhall, writes, “Did [Obama’s] comments cause Black Lives Matter marchers in Dallas to chant “Pigs in a blanket; fry ‘em like bacon”? It certainly didn’t discourage it.”
Matt Walsh, from The Blaze, explains, “Obama took advantage of any opportunity to foment racial division. He utilized every tool at his disposal to play identity politics. He took the most localized incidents and turned them into matters of national importance, and he did so on purpose.” Many may respond to Walsh: ‘Obama tried his best. He had good intentions.’ But, does Obama merit the benefit of the doubt?
Ultimately, President Barack Obama has left behind a legacy opposite of what he promised, as he failed to mend the racial division, and instead, stoked the flame.
“O, let my land be a land where Liberty / Is crowned with no false patriotic wreath, / But opportunity is real, and life is free, / Equality is in the air we breathe.”
Nathan Ecarma studies Bible, culture, and language. He serves on the Worldview Initiative and as a Managing Editor for the school newspaper, the Bryan Triangle. In between theological conversations, he enjoys binge watching Netflix and attempting to sing his favorite songs.
Follow his Twitter: ecarmanathan 
