When ‘Identity Politics’ is Rational

Racism, prejudice, and gender inequality are all plaguing matters in the U.S. and although each of these problems has been slowly climbing up a more positive path, there are still looming issues in each area. When it comes to any vote, inequality surrounds the ballots. Women are not taken as seriously in the workforce, and the first African American president was just voted into office, and although leaps and bounds have been made, it is a certainty that identity politics truly do exist. There are some moments, however, that they can be applied, to ultimately enhance the system.

Unfortunately, there are many ways that identity politics can be taken in the wrong context. A great example of this is when Obama was running for presidential candidacy. Although a lot of people voted for Obama based on his sound nature and strong capability of being the president of the United States, there is no doubt that identity politics were also used to get him into office. Being in the twenty-first century, the fact that there had not been a black president before now is almost inconceivable, and one of the reasons Obama is in office now has a lot to do with the identity politics that surrounded him. Many citizens used one of the reasons they voted for Obama as getting the first African American into office, and people in the public media weren’t ashamed to admit it. All sides considered, this truly did need to happen, it is historic that it happened, and it opens many more doors not only for African Americans but it gives the American people hope that prejudice may be on its way out the door.

In Stanley Fish’s article, he summarizes that identity politics can be useful when it stands for a credible cause, “an African American voter could come to the conclusion that an African American candidate would be likely to fight for changes that could remove barriers a white candidate might not even see” he explains. This certainly applies to the argument of identity politics being applied to voting for Obama.

Throughout history, many mistakes have been made and need to be taken into consideration when dealing with politics in general. The famous quote “Those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it” can be used as a backboard to protect identity politics. Without these politics, there would be no one around to force the change that is actually necessary. This necessary change involves equality for both gender, race, religion and all prejudice including those attached to sexuality. In politics, advocacy for same-marriage is becoming a critical component of the candidate's platform. If there were no one to say “I want a woman in office because she will listen to what I believe as a woman” then there will never be a woman in the office, at least not for the right reasons. There are most definitely instances where someone would take advantage of a situation that would support what they want to happen and so they may justify the prejudiced way they vote as being acceptable, but the bigger question ends up being “what is actually prejudice?” Would it be prejudiced to vote for a woman as president because America wants a woman in the office to serve for political change everywhere or are the reasons justifiable because a woman will help make massive changes for women in the work force. These are two arguments that can both be considered reasonable, but they must be taken into account before casting a vote.

The unfortunate tie between politics and the world is that there is always going to be prejudice because it is constantly breeding through ignorant people. Sadly, generations begin to develop the same, wrongfully acquired, perception as the generation before them that taught them. Identity politics can certainly be seen as prejudice, but it is the necessary prejudice that allows for a positive change in the country and hopefully someday the world.

Work Cited

Fish, Stanley. "When ‘Identity Politics’ Is Rational." Opinionator When Identity Politics Is Rational Comments. Version Gender, politics, race. The New York Times, 17 Feb. 2008, http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/02/17/when-identity-politics-is-rational/?.