The Ethnic Presidency looks how racial and ethnic conflict has openly and covertly played a crucial role the past three decades in influencing, shaping and ultimately deciding who bags the world’s biggest political prize, the White House. Hutchinson believes that racial politics will play an even bigger role in the 2008 presidential election and future election.

I had the opportunity to conduct a blog interview with Mr. Hutchinson and his responses to my questions were as follows:

1. In your new and last book you look at how racial and ethnic factors come into play in political races, how do you think this will play out in the 2008 presidential election?

Race already has played a role. The two questions that the media has been obsessed with are “Is America ready for a black president?” and “Will Latinos vote for a black candidate?” Both suggest that race and ethnicity are deeply imprinted in the thinking of the media and by extension the thinking of many voters. Even those that feel they have to add “we have no problem voting for an African-American.” Also, the rap against Obama is he lacks experience, that could be a subtle way of saying he lacks competence to deal with the big ticket public policy issues.

2. Obama seems particularly interested in capturing the Latino voter, but it seems he is having some problem because of this allegedly lingering tension between Latinos and African Americans. However, in 1988, when Jesse Jackson also ran for President, it seems he was able to make major inroads. What are the major difference between the two?

Obama makes no overt appeals to Latinos on issues of immigration and health care. Jackson did. Obama is relatively unknown to Latino voters. Jackson was well known through his rainbow coalition organizing efforts. Finally, the tensions and conflict over immigration, numbers, and political power between blacks and Latinos has sharpened in some quarters in the past decade.

3. If Obama were to win the nomination and if you were part of his campaign team, what advice would you give him so he could bridge the Latino and African-American communities together?

Spend time in the Latino communities. Learn some Spanish. Talk about health care and immigration reform. Cultivate the support and confidence of Latino community leaders and elected officials.


I like to thank Earl Ofari Hutchinson for taking time out of his busy schedule to answer these questions. These are indeed exciting times. Even though the topic of race may not be as taboo as it was in past, we still have a long way to go in addressing the inequities that exist in our country. The message being told by both candidates is clear. It is a call to bring about change and hope in America. However, we must stay vigilant and make sure we are not being sold on false “hope” by either candidate.

FOR MUCH MORE INFORMATION ABOUT EARL OFARI HUTCHINSON, VISIT HIS VIRTUAL BOOK TOUR WEBSITE.

TO ORDER YOUR COPY, VISIT ETHNICPRESIDENCY.COM

It is amazing how America has a selective memory when it comes to discussing the historic nature of the Democratic primary election. While many are hoping that the race issue would not be in forefront in the 2008 presidential primary campaign, the fact is, racial and ethnic conflict has always been a factor in presidential politics. The Ethnic Presidency looks how racial and ethnic conflict has openly and covertly played a crucial role the past three decades in influencing, shaping and ultimately deciding who bags the world’s biggest political prize, the White House. Hutchinson believes that racial politics will play an even bigger role in the 2008 presidential election and future election.

Hutchinson examines Obamamania, the Hillary and Bill factor, the soaring Latino vote, the silent but potent Asian-American vote, the immigration wars, the GOP’s love-hate relationship with black and Latino America, and Bush’s effort redo the GOP’s image from the ole boys club to a party of racial diversity. Although the book was release this month, Hutchinson wrote this prior to the first Presidential primary which was on January 29, therefore, some of the questions The Ethnic Presidency asks have already been answered. Here is a sample of questions the book asks and answers:

• Will America accept a black president? Can Obama be that president?
• Will America accept a woman president? Can Hillary be that president?
• Will America accept a Latino president? Can Bill Richardson be that president?
• Will America accept a Mormon president? Can Mitt Romney be that president?
• How the GOP played the Southern Strategy through Presidents Nixon, Reagan, Bush Sr. and Bush Jr. to repeatedly win the White House. Can and will they abandon it in 2008?
• Did blacks and Latinos elect Bush?
• Have the Democrats taken the black and Latino vote for granted?
• Why have Presidential candidates other than John Edwards avoided making poverty an issue?
• Why immigration will be a stealth factor in the 2008 campaign. And did it help or hurt John McCain?
• Will Rudolph Giuliani’s contentious relations with blacks as New York mayor hurt or help his White House bid?

Earl Ofari Hutchinson – Bio
Earl Ofari Hutchinson is an author, syndicated columnist, political analyst and commentator. He has been a frequent guest on Hannity and Colmes, The O’Reilly Factor, The Big Story, EXTRA, and numerous CNN news and talk shows. He was a regular commentator on CNBC’s The Dennis Miller Show.

He has been a guest on the Today Show, Dateline, The Lehrer Hour, and BET News, America’s Black Forum. He is a frequent commentator for the American Urban Broadcast Network and Ed Gordon’s News and Notes on NPR. He is a featured columnist for Black News, Black America Web, and Alternet. He is associate editor of New America Media.

His op-ed columns appear in the Baltimore Sun, Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Daily News, Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, Newsday, the Philadelphia Inquirer, the San Francisco Chronicle, the Christian Science Monitor, and other major newspapers. He is the author of nine books, including The Latino Challenge to Black America.

FOR MUCH MORE INFORMATION ABOUT EARL OFARI HUTCHINSON, VISIT HIS VIRTUAL BOOK TOUR WEBSITE.

TO ORDER YOUR COPY, VISIT ETHNICPRESIDENCY.COM

Mr. Hutchinson has reached out to a number of Latino blogs to spark up conversation. I was asked to write up some questions while I was reading his book and the send those questions to him, which he would then answer. His stop will be on October 11 this coming Thursday. Mr. Hutchinson will be around for a short time to comment and answer comments. When I was developing my questions, I was hoping I would has some hard questions concerning the Black-Brown divide. My goal was to break down some myths I am hoping that I did. I know that some of you, my readers, probably participated in a previous stop, however, I hope you will continue the conversation on my blog. This is an important discuss that will not be solved in a few days, but this is a great way to begin for a conversation.

His bio material and book summary follows:

The Census Bureau made it official in 2002! Latinos are now the top minority in the U.S. The news hit black America like a thunderbolt. Many blacks complained that they would be shoved even further to the economic and political margin among minorities in the country. The Census report also showed Latinos were widening their population growth gap on blacks.

But, it’s not just the numbers. Latinos demand political and social issues no longer be framed solely in black and white. That presents another challenge to black America. At times that challenge has been intensified and conflicted by the wildly divergent agendas of African-Americans and Latinos on immigration, political empowerment, bilingual education, and jobs. These are complex and engaging issues.

The Latino Challenge to Black America: Towards a Conversation Between African-Americans and Hispanics examines the hot button issues and problems that conflict and unite blacks and Latinos. It looks at how both groups interpret and see those issues and problems through the prism of their experiences. It’s highly readable, fast paced, cutting edge book that blends the personal and analytical, and ultimately can serve as a guide to navigate race and ethnic relations through 21st Century America. The book will be published jointly in Spanish and English.

Author Bio -
Earl Ofari Hutchinson is an author, syndicated columnist, political analyst and commentator. He has been a frequent guest on Hannity and Colmes, The O’Reilly Factor, The Big Story, EXTRA, and numerous CNN News and Talk Shows. He was a regular commentator on CNBC’s The Dennis Miller Show.

He has been a guest on the Today Show, Dateline, The Lehrer Hour, and BET News, America’s Black Forum. He is a frequent commentator for the American Urban Broadcast Network and Ed Gordon’s News and Notes on NPR. He is a featured columnist for BlackNews.com, BlackAmericaWeb.com, and Alternet.org. He is associate editor of New America Media. His op-ed columns appear in the Baltimore Sun, L.A. Times, Los Angeles Daily News, Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, Newsday, the Philadelphia Inquirer, the San Francisco Chronicle, and the Christian Science Monitor, and other major newspapers.