"Diversity Training."

Now that the candidacies of Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama are forcing us to examine feelings about race, gender and power, there's much insight to be gained from studying their fictional ancestors. After all, the part of the president of the United States is one of the few that could always be cast as a white male, so any time a woman or a person of color has been put into that role, it was done purposefully. How have our depictions of black and female presidents reflected our feelings about having one? How do they shape our current opinions and comfort levels? And should Obama or Clinton ascend to the presidency, how will the depictions change once we've gone from "what if" to "what now?"

He considers 24 and Commander in Chief, mostly; early stabs The Man (1972, with James Earl Jones) and Kisses for My President (1964, with Polly Bergen); Head of State and Prison Break.

Related online viewing, via Ray Pride: "Yes We Can."

Posted by dwhudson at February 3, 2008 12:31 PM