Racism remains 'alive and well' in U.S.

Hate crimes and threats
Since Election Day, authorities across the nation have documented numerous alleged hate crimes related to Obama's election. More threats have been directed toward Obama than any previous president-elect, including potentially threatening writings, Internet postings and other activities, authorities say.

Still, more than 40 million whites voted for Obama in the presidential election. Republican John McCain won a majority of the white vote, but Obama did better among white voters than Democratic nominee John Kerry did in 2004.

The Rev. Lennox Yearwood Jr., president and CEO of the Hip Hop Caucus, compared Obama's election to Jackie Robinson breaking the Major League Baseball color barrier in 1947.

Robinson, who played for the Brooklyn Dodgers, was subjected to racial slurs and taunts at ballparks across the nation. It took years for other teams to integrate and even longer for them to hire black coaches and managers.

"When he broke the color barrier, what happened?" asked Yearwood, whose Washington-based organization promotes political activism. "The problems were still there, but it began to create changes."

Yearwood said Obama's election inspired a lot of young blacks to vote and get involved in the campaign. He is now encouraging young activists to use the same enthusiasm to lobby the government for more jobs in poor neighborhoods and better health care for those who can't afford it.

"People in the 'hood want to be involved in politics. They want to know what a filibuster is," he said, referring to a procedure used in the Senate to block votes on legislation, even when it is supported by a slim majority.

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