バラク・オバマの「より完全な連邦」演説にみる人種ビジョン : 「ポスト人種社会」論への批判的介入のために

Abstract

This paper aims to work on what has been known as a “postracial society” thesis through a reconsideration of Barack Obama's “A More Perfect Union” speech, which he gave on March 18, 2008. Obama's silence on racial issues has been presumed to be one of his rhetorical characteristics and/or tactics. Therefore, the speech, which he delivered in the midst of the heated presidential race, was nothing but exceptional. What is the specific background on which Obama decided to give the speech? How does the rhetoric and logic of the speech relate to his thoughts and personal history? What are the arguments for or against the speech? These are among lots of questions which interconnect each other. There is no doubt that we always have to be conscious of the difficulty of talking about race without reinforcing racial stereotypes or distorted views which are still widespread in American society rather than destroying them. I am fully aware that this piece's attempt to focus on the relationships between Obama's thoughts and America's racism could paradoxically end up defining him a priori as a “racial being.” The very decision to pick up an issue of racism as the key point, despite there are countless approaches to analyze Obama, could help acknowledge the argument that a black politician should “naturally” be discussed within a racial framework. In other words, we could paradoxically strengthen the very racial stereotypes which at the outset we tried to criticize. In a sense, this paper is a tentative trial to struggle with this racial paradox.