Healthcare and the Residual Effects of Race
By Rev. Graylan Scott Hagler
(March 25, 2010)

The healthcare debate raged for over a year and a half. In the midst of that time we did not experience a credible discussion of the healthcare proposal because of the vitriolic accusations forwarded by conservative talk show hosts that motivated an emotional and largely demagogic constituency. This has been unfortunate because the merits of the healthcare bill have not been understood well by the general population because of the irrational statements that had to be defended against. Think about the various unfounded claims that were made: "They want to establish a death panel!" "This is socialism!" "This is simply a plan to get abortion on demand!" The irrational claims have continued to proliferate as the healthcare debate wore on.

Shear racism easily reared its ugly and unwanted head. It has been absolutely embarrassing for the nation to see people wearing monkey masks with Obama written across the forehead of those masks. Or the spitting and "N" word name calling that happened in the halls of congress against Black lawmakers. It has been an ugly time.

This kind of despicable behavior has not only been an embarrassment to the United States in the world arena, but I believe that it is endemic of where we are as a country. People of differing races still do not live in the same neighborhoods; attend the same schools; have the same opportunities; attend the same churches; have the same outlook on life; or expectations in regards to life. Issues of race and racism have continued to be an issue within the United States of America. People had hoped that the election of a President that is Black would be the last hurdle in racism. But instead we find this virulent strain of virus continuing to plague the American people and the nation.

It is clear to me that we are well within the "Third Reconstruction" in the history of race and the nation.

The first reconstruction occurred directly after the Civil War when "one person-one vote" was enforced. This meant that Blacks were elected all across the south and some to the halls of congress. Then the cry went out from the proponents of the confederacy that "We need to take our country and government back!" These cries resulted in a coup d'etat in places like Wilmington, North Carolina where the newly elected town council was simply murdered and replaced. It was a message that went through out the land and then poll and literacy taxes were imposed and the end result was that Blacks who had tasted some small modicum of participating in the so-called democratic process were silenced and nullified.

Then the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s marked the "Second Reconstruction." In this movement issues were addressed like voting rights, public accommodations, fair housing and the eventual institutionalization of policies like affirmative action as a way of bringing people who had been historically denied economic opportunity into the stream of career and financial advancement. Then the cry from the political right again was raised, "We need to take our country and government back!" Then forces galvanized under a grandfatherly type white man, Ronald Reagan, and proceeded to dismantle the changes that were made and effectively turn back the clock!

Now we are in this moment with a President who is Black and finally we are discussing the things that are vitally important to people of color and the poor and yet the same refrain is heard, "We need to take our government and country back!" It is the Third Reconstruction and the question is: will we allow the clock to be turned back again?

It is clear that what is being stated is that Black people and other people of-color are not considered an integral part of the United States by powerful forces within the nation. Racism and racist attitudes are alive and well! It clearly points out the moral and ethical disease that is at the core of the American fabric. Some, a few short months ago, after the election of President Obama, declared that we had entered a post-racial era. It is sad how quickly the hope declared a few months ago is revealed as delusive so quickly and without apology. We have now come to a new time and new place where old themes are declared, a line is drawn in the sand, and we shall see if we shall go on as a nation or fight a new civil war. What occurred during this healthcare debate was not pretty, but on the other hand, it was historic America!

Rev. Graylan Hagler is the Senior Minister of Plymouth Congregational United Church of Christ, Washington, D.C., and National President of Ministers for Racial, Social and Economic Justice (MRSEJ). He is one of the co-chairs of the Tikkun/NSP conference in Washington D.C. June 11-14, 2010. If you haven't registered yet, please be aware that the cost of registration goes up after April 10, 2010.