by Jeff Hitchcock

Barack Obama's status as President-elect dominated the news the past two weeks. In the midst of a lot of head-scratching, crystal ball gazing, and sentimental reviews of history people are trying to sort out the meaning of the historic change his election has wrought. History, though, has its own pace and it's still too early to discern the direction of the country.

I am tempted to speculate on any number of ways the white anti-racist community can engage in positive action, and I, along with many, feel hopeful about prospects for change over the next four years.

But there is a more immediate concern at hand. The past three weeks have seen a pandemic of racist episodes ranging from minor to murderous. Some have been directed at Obama, and some simply targeted substitutes. If you live anywhere in the United States, there is likely to have been an incident near you.

Two thousand new members signed up on Stormfront, the leading white supremacist website, on the day following the election. Every election is followed by a spate of violent incidents, but this election has set a record. There likely will be a decline from the immediate high level of racist violence over time, but racist incidents by white supremacists will continue, and there is good reason to believe they will persist at a level higher than before the election.

The post-racial United States is seeing a battle line forming, in some cases figurative and in some cases literal. People around the country have reacted to some of the incidents. What can you do when it comes to your town? Here are some useful suggestions.

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A somewhat amused and skeptical, but supportive, reporter attends an AWARE-LA function.

Join in calling for the Obama administration to make Eliminating Racial Discrimination a priority for the first 100 days.

Several articles surveyed incidents across the nation:
    After Obama's win, white backlash festers in US. Christian Science Monitor.
    The death spasms of American racism. The American Muslim.
    Obama has more threats than other presidents-elect. Associated Press.
    Racist incidents increase in the wake of Obama's election. The Seattle Medium.
    Why is the national press ignoring small-town racism? Vanity Fair.
    Hate incidents in U.S. surge. Chicago Tribune.
    Interest in white supremacist groups rise, expert predicts more growth. St. Louis American.
    White supremacist rage boils over after Obama victory. EURweb.com.
    Obama candidacy exposes race hatred in America. FinalCall.com.
    Obama victory brings "racist rats out of the woodwork." AlterNet.
    Racist incidents follow Obama victory. Digital Journal.
    Obama election spurs race crimes around country. Yahoo! News.
    More than 200 hate-related, anti-Obama incidents in past two weeks, week of November 20-26, 2008. The Wilmington Journal.
    An increase in hate crimes during election season. angry asian man.

Some articles took a local focus. Residents and students in Bar Harbor and Portland, Maine, respectively took action against two local incidents. The Georgia NAACP speaks out. Rural New Jersey (McCain-Palin country) marches against racism. Less hopeful, Idaho school children chant "Assassinate Obama."

On Long Island, New York, white youth murder a Latino man, a random target of their rampage. Townspeople wonder (how it could happen. But some feel the prevailing racial climate invited the crime (Article 1, Article 2, Article 3).

Some say racism is done. An attorney calls for an end to institutional racism cases. One pundit takes a tongue-in-cheek look at the post-racial society. The Associated Press reminds us of sobering facts. A black American reflects on the need for some personal readjustment. Another ponders adjustments called upon by all Americans. And yet another says the election victory, though important for black Americans, was the most important advancement for whites. A white person agrees.

In Minnesota, Twin Cities schools are more segregated than ever. Racial imbalance persists at elite public schools in New York City. Denver residents critique policing practices in communities of color. Palo Alto, CA, police dispute accusations of racial profiling. Rahm Emanuel, Barack Obama's chief of staff, apologizes for his dad's racist remarks. Don't put your racism out there on Facebook, coach warns.

David Duke held his conference but attendance was low. Maybe his followers were too busy committing all those hate crimes all around the country. The Southern Poverty Law Center sued a white supremacist group and won a verdict of 2.5 million dollars (Article 1, Article 2, Article 3, Article 4). A previously unknown Klan group surfaces after murder of reluctant initiate (Article 1, Article 2). Former Grand Wizard of Canadian KKK finds his past catches up with him. Aspiring Obama assassin claims not enough white people on grand jury hearing his case.

Americans are optimistic that an Obama presidency will improve race relations according to recent polls by Quinnipiac University, CNN, and the Associated Press. Marin County, CA, has an educational initiative to address the achievement gap. The president of the Oregon School Boards Association called for an understanding of the pervasive effects of white privilege. Iowa wants to address racial bias in foster care. Wisconsin is advocating tolerance among hunters-a serious matter in the wake of 7 race related murders in past years. Ontario has released a report identifying racism as a factor in youth violence (Article 1, Article 2).

The recent approval of Proposition 8 on the California ballot that struck down same sex marriage has led to some critical examination of the intersection of racism, whiteness, and heterosexism (Article 1, Article 2, Article 3, Article 4, Article 5)

Anti-Obama hate messages were spray painted on the North Carolina State campus. Four students admitted doing it. The NAACP called for severe punishment and 500 people rallied on campus against the grafitti messages. But NC State is reluctant since the messages were painted in a designated "free-expression" zone on campus. The students have apologized, anonymously. The NAACP continues to pursue the matter. Several hate incidents have taken place on campuses in eastern Pennsylvania. The president of Lehigh University spoke out. Chief Illiniwek is brought back by University of Illinois supporters.

A popular class on racism is cancelled at Boston College, amidst student protests.

Bob Jones University is sorry they did all that racist stuff. Change is not here yet warns a Columbia University student. White anti-racists make appearances at Humboldt State University and Bryn Mawr. Queens University, Ontario, maintains its whiteness. Some South Carolina campuses report good race relations. Across the USA, black head football coaches are disappearing from college campuses. Diversity continues to be an issue at the University of Oregon. Princeton University reflects on one of its most famous alumni, Michelle Obama.

Israel has pulled out of next year's United Nations conference on racism. Australia is considering the same. Australian soap operas lack racial diversity. People in Israel laughed at the US for its racial sensitivities, but Israel could now use some of the same columnist says. A Sri Lankan columnist wonders why his own country cannot be as racially enlightened as the US. The French say "Oui" to ending racism. But Czech music teachers fail to understand multiculturalism. And a Polish flyer incorporates not so subtle racist condescension. A Brussels blogger says "Anglo-Saxon" is not a useful term, if it ever was.

Someone leaked the membership roll of the (racist) British National Party (BNP) causing a major fuss. BNP members are arrested for handing out racist leaflets. British police forces struggle to recruit people of color. A BBC radio personality calls for a cab, and specifies "no Asian drivers." She is fired, and a columnist asks was she racist or just an imbecile. In the meantime, unexpectedly, black women now outstrip white women on pay in Britain.

A South African nightclub is accused of racism. A white police official claims his arrest and investigation is part of a ploy to get rid of white employees. South African teen gets four life terms for racist murders.

What happens to more than 43,000 undocumented, unaccompanied children removed annually from the United States? A new report, A Child Alone and Without Papers, tells the story.

Two white people, one Canadian and one from the Midwest, reflect on their experiences and racial progress in America.

Two personal views on white people adopting children of color: one pro and one con.

Some white people are just plain confused.

"Is it wrong to talk about Michelle Obama's body?" by Tamura Lomax. AlterNet, November 22, 2008.

"Obama and the end of white elite politics," by Laura Carlsen. AlterNet, November 19, 2008.

"Obama coalition marginalizes whites," by DeWayne Wickham. Tucson Citizen, November 15, 2008.

"The rise of the Hapa emperor, or, why an Obama White House will remain white," by The AngryIndian. Radio Utopie, November 14, 2008.

"Inagurating multiculturalist white supremacy," by Dylan Rodriguez. RaceWire, November 10, 2008.

"Aspiring to whiteness," by tanglad. Tanglad, November 9, 2008.

"What happens to white supremacist groups now?" hosted by Alex Cohen. npr, November 11, 2008.

"Race and privilege in the 'Age of Obama'," hosted by Farai Chideya. npr, November 7, 2008.