On November 4th, 2008 racism was officially pronounced dead. It at one time formed a negative, but powerful part of politics and society, but grew weaker over the years. By the 1990s the disease looked terminal. Despite the attempts of Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton in their use of heroic measures to keep it relevant, it slipped further and further away.
Racism's final minutes ticked away when Barack Obama was declared president. At that point, no one inside or outside of the United States could ever call the nation "racist" again. Whatever other calamities may happen over the next four years, we can safely toss "racism" into the historical dustbin.
Mourners over the death of racism include Sharpton and Jackson. As racism declines in relevance, so do they. Arguments for expansion of affirmative action and quotas now can be met with the fact that an overwhelmingly racist society would never elect a black president. Racial prejudice is no more prevalent than, say, prejudice against Appalachians. Of course people from that region faced a barrage of insulting stereotypes over this very election.
One prejudice put to rest, another laid bare.
The death of racism will have a powerful result, the loosening of the ties that bind blacks to the Democratic Party. Additionally, if Obama ever comes close to implementing his plans of theft it will drive more middle class and wealthy blacks towards the Republican Party. Racism's death also means the death of race based politics. That is definitely a sliver of positive from this election.
