The real story behind the US mid-terms

The mid term US elections said a lot about US society and politics. Such is President Obama's unpopularity that Democratic candidates begged him not to turn up to their campaign meetings, with some in denial that they even voted for him.

Racism is clearly in evidence here, for Obama has been a successful President in restoring the US ecomony, in making considered foreign policy calls and above all in introducing a fairer health care system. This counts for nothing for that coalition of rednecks, careerist Republican politicians licking their wounds and that vast number of white Americans who, put quite simply, are fearful of their fellow black citizens.

There is a huge gap in persepection between whites and blacks, caused largely by lack of integration: surveys show that 75% of white Americans have all-white social networks which is probably why only 16% of whites (comapred to 56% of blacks) think blacks face significant discrimimation.

This is, thankfully, different to the situation in the UK, where black white integration is increasing and with it more mixed relationships, friendships, memberships of sports and social clubs, marriages and in many cities thriving mixed communities. White flight in the UK, if it existed at all, has for many years reversed as areas such as Notting Hill and Brixton have become very trendy.

The paradox here is that the problems faced by blacks in the US have helped create a very strong caucus of black politicians who have won power at local, state and national level, and who are playing increasingly important roles in civic society.

In the UK, the influence of black people in politics is disproportionately lower, with the power of the black vote not yet fully exercised. Groups like Operation Black Vote are determined to change that, and in the run up to the 2015 General Election, it will organise a powerful campaign to increase black voter registration. Watch this space!

Paul Hensby