Exposure Effect finally wins over my racist mom

[Patiod]

My mom is 84, and grew up in a time when African-Americans were expected to step off the sidewalks if they were approaching whites. She was a Hillary supporter, and then a McCain supporter, because she didn't understand or like Barack. Thought Michelle "looks angry".

After the debate this morning, she said "McCain didn't seem to have any good ideas for fixing the economy." What did she think about Obama? "Well, I'm not sure his ideas are much better, but I'm beginning to feel a little more comfortable with him. I think I'll probably have to vote for Obama."

I did some (secondary) research back in the late 70's on military people and how they handled taking orders from a woman. Those who hadn't worked for a woman in command -> negative. Those who had experience working for a woman in command -> equal (not any more negative or positive than working for a guy). It's all about exposure.

I think there are going to be a lot of voters like my mom - elderly, blue-collar Democrats, who over 3 debates will get used to seeing the black guy being the smarter, more thoughtful, more centered, calm, cool, steady person on the stage.

Pretty soon, he's not the "black guy" anymore, he's the smarter, more thoughtful, more centered, calm, cool, steady guy, and he's the one they start to feel more comfortable voting for.

Exposure, exposure, exposure. The more they see him, the more they like him.

[ourbluenation]

1. I thnk you're exactly right. It's too bad it even has to happen, but yeah, those folks

are getting very comfortable with a "President Obama" now that they've seen how presidential he is.

[carlotta]

2. absolutely

My mom has also done a complete reversal. After a year of saying she would never vote for Obama, she's now yelling at the t.v. every time McCain or Palin attack Obama. This morning she told me she saw the new Obama bio ad and loved it.

[Tarc]

3. My grandmother still use the term "that colored guy" sometimes

But thankfully, she absolutely loathes Palin. So I dunno, 4 weeks to go and she make swing Obama's way in the end.

[Chorophyll]

4. I think you're right, too.

Most people, deep in their hearts, are not hateful. They simply fear what they don't know.

(Just have to add how proud I am of my own 83-year-old mom, who supported Hillary and then went directly to Obama without a second thought.)

For both moms: :patriot:

[backscatter712]

5. Yeah. Exposure effect for the win!

The more people are introduced to people of other races, the more they interact with them, the more they're likely to disregard the stereotypes and treat them equally and decently.

So the more Obama gets on TV and gets his speeches in people's livingrooms, the less racism will hurt him. Sure, a lot of people, if they've only heard the name Barack Obama and seen his picture once or twice, a decent number of them are likely to have racist thoughts, and think of him negatively. Make those same people listen to his speeches, read his books, and see how he interacts with people, and at least some of them will throw out those stereotypes, and start thinking positively about him.

It's that "getting them to listen" part that's hard...

[rvablue]

6. I live in Va and I think there are going to be alot of folks like your grandmother

and I think that is one of the very positive effects of the long primary.

People are really scared right now about the future, and understandably so, and it is pushing them to confront their irrational, baseless fears, such as not voting for the smarter, calmer candidate just because he is black.

[demokatgurrl]

7. I think for many older white people

it helps to point out exactly where Obama was raised, and by whom. Not to diminish his African American identity, but to let them know that there is a part of him with which they can identify- middle class white folks. He was raised by his caucasian mother and grandparents, who are from frickin KANSAS for Chrissakes. That, along with his life in America as a Black man, and his African ancestry, give him a unique perspective but actually make him PERFECT to be President of this country, at this time.

[Patiod]

8. I love that he "gets" both black and white

and that he was raised partially overseas, so he doesn't have the rigidly parochial view of someone who got their first passport at age 44.

Also, he has his mom's progressive views, and his grandparents "old fashioned" values.

[Arugula Latte]

9. I was thinking that that must have been a big factor in Obama's bump after the first debate.

People who had mostly just heard about him -- scary, different, foreign -- saw him speak and their pre-conceived notions just did not jibe with what they were actually seeing and hearing.