"I don't like how they stick together..."

"I don’t like the way they always stick together and will be rude to me and real nice to the next person in line if they’re black."  

Although this is not an exact quote, it’s pretty close.  And it comes from my mom who I thought was completely color blind.  Mom made the above statement about a month ago when we were discussing the role of race in this year’s Democratic primary.

Mom was born into poverty in the coalfields of southern West Virginia.  She and my dad both earned their way into a lower middle class socioeconomic rung through their hard work and intelligence despite Dad dropping out of school in the 9th grade to work in the coal mines and despite Mom being a woman during a time when opportunities for women were extremely limited.  Even today, my Mom and I are the only people in our entire extended family to attend college.  We both have master’s degrees now.

Mom has been an ardent Hillary supporter.  She relates to Hillary.  She sees her as a strong woman who has gotten where she is because of her own hard work and natural intelligence.  Somewhat similar to the Clintons, my dad also cheated on my mom at one point.  Although they reconciled, it was rough going in their marriage for 10 years or so.  (As an aside, on his deathbed I watched Dad tell her that he loved her more than he could ever express.)  Mom has often seen herself as too business-like in certain situations.  Hillary has received criticism for her iciness at times.  In summary, it’s quite natural for Mom, an older white woman, to support another older white woman with whom she so closely identifies.

After watching Obama’s speech, I asked Mom what she thought of it.  Her voice cracked slightly as she gave a rather intellectual analysis.  She concluded by saying it was also truly inspirational.  As she was going upstairs to check her e-bay account, she said, "I may have to vote for Barack.  He has greatness in him."