How White is the White House? American Presidents and the Politics of Race

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PD Dr. Britta Waldschmidt-Nelson, Universität München
As seat and symbol of American govern¬mental power, the White House has been the home of 42 Presidents, all – except the current one – white males. While these men vowed to uphold the US Constitution and declared their faith in the principle that all men are created equal and have an inalienable right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, they still presided over a society in which most basic human and civil rights were denied to African Americans – and other minorities – for almost 200 years. Despite much progress during the last few decades, the living conditions of average black and white Americans are still far from being equal today. This lecture will analyze how American Presidents have influenced the tone and course of racial politics and race relations in the United States from the founding era to the 21st century.