U.S.: Obama’s election has helped thaw race relations even more
- I’ve been working downtown for 30 years, so I’ve got a good feeling for it. Since President Obama started campaigning, if I go almost anywhere, it’s: ‘Hi! Hello, how are you, sir?’ I’m talking about strangers. Calling me ‘sir.’
- Milwaukee resident Samuel Sallis • On the change in people’s treatment of him since Obama started running for president. Sallis isn’t alone. Nearly two-thirds of Americans think race relations are improving in this country, with double the number of blacks agreeing with that statement than previously. Despite fears that Obama’s election would build energy towards extremist anti-black sentiment (with white supremacist groups using it as a recruitment tool), the change has been largely positive so far. • source