IBDeditorials.com: Editorials, Political Cartoons, and Polls from Investor's Business Daily -- No Getting Past Race In America

IBDeditorials.com: Editorials, Political Cartoons, and Polls from Investor's Business Daily -- No Getting Past Race In America: "Eric Holder's Justice Department plans to hire more than 50 new civil rights lawyers to ferret out racism in American society. And you thought you were getting a post-racial presidency."

At his inauguration, President Obama said, "because we have tasted the bitter swill of civil war and segregation and emerged from that dark chapter stronger and more united, we cannot help but believe that the old hatreds shall someday pass; that the lines of tribe shall soon dissolve; that as the world grows smaller, our common humanity shall reveal itself."

Who could not be moved at hearing a newly sworn-in president note that "a man whose father less than 60 years ago might not have been served at a local restaurant can now stand before you to take a most sacred oath."

Indeed, one of the most alluring aspects of his campaign was the frequent message that putting him in the White House would be part of America's departure from its ugly racist past.

In his much-celebrated speech on race in Philadelphia in March of last year, he spoke of "my unyielding faith in the decency and generosity of the American people." He accused his former pastor, Rev. Jeremiah Wright, of having "a profoundly distorted view of this country — a view that sees white racism as endemic, and that elevates what is wrong with America above all that we know is right with America."