Summary

In Chapter 25, Wilkerson introduces Part 6 by noting Barack Obama’s election was the greatest departure of the hierarchy. This part will look at the backlash from his ascension.

Wilkerson notes the intersection of many circumstances that made such a departure possible. that Obama was extremely qualified, with a flawless campaign and extremely intelligent wife. His opponent ran a less energetic campaign and chose a bad vice president. Leading up the election was the great recession, creating great disillusionment with the republican party then in power.

Obama is the son of a white woman and Kenyan-immigrant father, thus not a descendant of slavery. His election gave some the false comfort that racism was over in America.

The majority of white people did not vote for Obama in 2008, and fewer still in 2012. Wilkerson notes since the 1964 Civil Rights Act, white people moved towards the Republican...