The nomination of Loretta Lynch, the black federal prosecutor from the Brooklyn district, has elicited comments about her delayed confirmation vote in the Senate. These two members of Congress are saying some Senate Republicans, five decades after a bipartisan vote passed the Civil Rights Act, are opposed to Loretta Lynch because she is black. A fair parsing of these comments by the president and attorney general also suggests the possibility of racism among Senate Republicans.
Appearing on The Daily Show a few weeks ago, the hip-hop singer and actor Common discussed race relations with Jon Stewart. As the Obama presidency ends, the status quo on race is in a bad place. In some conservative circles, a school of reduction holds that the black vote is gone and the Hispanic vote is a waste of time.

 Racism exists when one ethnic group or historical collectivity dominates, excludes, or seeks to eliminate another on the basis of differences that it believes are hereditary and unalterable. Racism is still a prevalent problem and admits our ancestors' misdeeds. This would involve acknowledging not only racism toward minority groups but also the inherent privileges afforded to white people just for being in the majority group. I am fearful for when Obama leaves office; I  can only hope that America will see African Americans is a better light.