Votes should be based on politics, not prejudice

‘ ‘ ‘ It’s funny how often fiction provides valuable insight into real life. This past weekend,… ‘ ‘ ‘ It’s funny how often fiction provides valuable insight into real life. This past weekend, I went to see the Pittsburgh Public Theater’s production of ‘Radio Golf,’ August Wilson’s final play. Set in 1997, it follows the story of Harmond Wilks, a black Pittsburgher running for mayor. ‘ ‘ ‘ The parallels are apparent: With a black man running for president, the issues brought up in ‘Radio Golf’ are more than relevant to how Americans, regardless of race, are approaching November’s election. ‘ ‘ ‘ In the play, Wilks is a privileged, Ivy League’-educated realtor who suddenly finds himself in the political spotlight. But as his campaign develops, Wilks is pressured to mold his campaign into what others want it to be. ‘ ‘ ‘ His wife and campaign manager, Mame, continually reminds Wilks that he needs to appease the important people of the city, regardless of how he feels about them personally. Despite his misgivings about the police chief, Wilks must restrain his anger in order to maintain his political support. ‘ ‘ ‘ Equally polarizing is Sterling, Wilks’ boyhood friend, who wants the candidate to be ‘the mayor for black folks.’ Having grown up in Pittsburgh’s Hill District, Wilks can empathize with the hardships of black Americans there. ‘ ‘ ‘ But Wilks does his best to strike a balance between the two. He claims that he is ‘going to be the mayor of everybody. It’s not about being black or white, it’s about being American.’ ‘ ‘ ‘ As the story continues, his mission becomes increasingly more difficult. Wilks’ relationship with the Hill deepens as he discovers social and familial ties. Even though he is unable to abandon his history, Wilks comes to the realization that he must distance himself from the past if he is to win the election. ‘ ‘ ‘ This conflict is made doubly apparent with posters of Dr. Martin Luther King and Tiger Woods on opposing ends of the stage. ‘ ‘ ‘ Written in 2005, Wilson was able to forecast the issues that Sen. Barack Obama has had to deal with for the span of his candidacy. ‘Radio Golf,’ however, presents its ideas more openly and honestly than any politician or news outlet ever has. The dialogue is real and unfiltered, raising questions about this year’s election that have often been brushed aside as too controversial. ‘ ‘ ‘ Is Obama in touch with the black community? Will he be a president for black Americans? Is he too black? Is he black enough? ‘ ‘ ‘ Wilson’s play doesn’t provide an answer because there isn’t one. But unless these questions are discussed, and in a forum that doesn’t heed political correctness, there will always be a lingering debate. ‘ ‘ ‘ Even when issues of race or racism have arisen for the Obama campaign, we have been quick to appear outraged and quicker still to take them out of the spotlight. When Obama addressed the nation following the comments of Rev. Jeremiah Wright in March, I believed that a dialogue on race (in both the political and social realm) was about to unfold. But since then, America has done exactly what Obama warned against. We have ‘walk[ed] away … retreat[ed] into our respective corners.’ ‘ ‘ ‘ Since March, race has slowly disappeared from the election conversation. Perhaps more immediate issues like the economy have taken its place. And this is not entirely a bad thing. As race becomes less of a polarizing factor, the American people can make a more informed choice. One based on policies, not prejudice. ‘ ‘ ‘ But it’s no longer Obama’s responsibility to engage the discussion. He’s already asked America to recognize race as one of its foremost issues. Even if it doesn’t resurface until after the election (regardless of who wins), the debate would still be valuable. ‘ ‘ ‘ Like Harmond Wilks, Obama is being pulled in two different directions. There’s no doubt that people like Wright want Obama to be the president for black America. And there’s no doubt that people in Obama’s campaign office are asking him to downplay his ethnicity. But like Wilks, Obama is pursuing, as he claims, change for all Americans. ‘ ‘ ‘ Though it doesn’t provide the answers, Wilson’s play evokes essential questions at a time when race, in less than two weeks, will consciously, or subconsciously, sway voters. E-mail Hayavadhan at haythuppal@gmail.com.