Race in America, 2008

NPR just completed a great series on race in the 2008 election called The York Project. They interviewed a group of people of all races and backgrounds living in York, Pennsylvania (a battle ground state that ultimately chose Obama) over the past few months about their experiences with race and how they affected their voting choices. The series wrapped up on the air this morning, when the participants shared their voting choices, but also what election day meant to them, regardless of who they voted for.

I've been following the series since September, but this morning's segment was especially notable to me. The participants touched on the feeling of celebration among everyone on election day, including McCain voters. One McCain voter noted that even though she was sad because he didn't win, she felt joy over the "social justice" that was won that day. A Black participant talked about wanting to buy an American flag for the first time in her life. The moderators asked if anyone felt "left out" by the outcome, and everyone said no.

Leah, a 76 year old McCain supporter who previously expressed worries that Obama is secretly a Muslim and terrorist, let her guard down when she discussed his first press conference. She said she thought Obama's calling himself a "mutt" (when discussion the family's ideal choice for a pet) was comical and she enjoyed it. This was the same woman who said there "might be chaos" if O were elected, and here she is now, chuckling about his mixed heritage.

Here's the main page, where you can listen to all segments of The York Project.

Portraits, backgrounds, and audio excerpts from each of the participants.

Photo gallery of York, Pennsylvania.