The "Age of Obama"

When the first African-American was elected to become the Commander in Chief of the U.S., most Americans were proud, and it marked a critical moment in history not only for people of color, but for the nation itself. On one hand, this time demonstrated the progress that has been made since the days of slavery and the Civil Rights Movement. However, many wonder whether the "Age of Obama" has also had a negative effect on people of color. One day I had a discussion with one of my Professors, and he explained that many white Americans were eager to elect an African-American president in order to rectify past wrongdoing and deal away with the "race" issue. Along with the "Age of Obama" came America's self-proclaimed "Post-Racial society" where discussions of race are seen as politically incorrect and even irrelevant to many. This could pose a problem, especially considering that there are still many disparities among ethnic minorities that could potentially get worse when ignored and overlooked. What do you think? Does presenting America as a "Post-Racial Society" benefit all Americans equally? Are issues pertaining to people of color gradually being ignored because of this new "Post-Racial society" or is there little to no difference? Does the positive impact of the "Age of Obama" outweigh the negative (if it exists)?

Social Media Hurting our Social Lives?

As an avid Facebook User, I've always wondered whether or not the time I spent on Facebook could have been put to better use. While I studied abroad in Ghana, internet connection was a hit or miss situation, so I was forced to immerse myself in the world around me. However, the same is not the case in most other developed countries, which leads me to question what influence sites such as Facebook and Twitter have on our social lives. Have these sites been helping us to communicate more with people, or rather have they been detaching us from the real world around us (or both)?  People who would usually have to call and say "Happy Birthday" or stop by to say "hi", can now spend two seconds writing on a friend's wall and feel satisfied that they've taken care of this "obligation". In addition, many people have been using these social media sites to create their own fantasy world, where they can display themselves as they wish to be seen, while ignoring (and hiding) the reality of their lives. Of course, these sites are great for keeping in contact with friends, advertising events, and contacting people you haven't seen in years. But are these same sites also harmful to the social life that exists when your computer screen shuts down?