So between Obama’s latest speech, Geraldine Ferraro’s comments, and what have you, it seems like the hierarchy of RACE, CLASS AND GENDER is among us. On all the mainstream news stations, print journals, and online media, the news anchors and journalists are acting like this is a BRAND NEW issue that America has never dealt with before. Well, clearly its been everyone’s minds for a LONG time but since this is the first time that a woman or an African American man is thisclose to winning the democratic candidacy, the topic is all over the place. But we still aren’t addressing these issues in the right way. Instead we are tip toeing around them, only mentioning them as abstract terms and theories. Leave that to the academics. it is up to the media to really get into it.
Even Clinton’s summary of the topics and Obama’s speech is strained at best:

In her opening remarks, Mrs. Clinton said she was “very glad” Mr. Obama had made his speech, given that she said that race had been a “complicated” issue in America that had been marked by “pitfalls” and “detours.” Asked why she was glad, she said that issues of race and gender are “important” and twice called them “difficult issues.” via

Meanwhile, alternative media like Alternet is approaching the categories of race, class and gender with full force. One of their latest pieces called “Veterans Decry Institutional Sexism in Military” excellently details issues female veterans deal with because of their gender.

As soldiers, then as veterans, and, even now, as members of the anti-war movement, women in the military are still fighting to be taken seriously. “It’s hard to be a veteran of the war and a woman,” said Iraq vet Patty McCann. “… A lot of times my experience gets boiled down to what I experienced as a woman — and I don’t get to talk about some of the things that I experienced as a soldier.”

One’s identity as a soldier versus a woman is fascinating. It is a dichotomy that is not explored on CNN or Fox news. It is one that could easily be applied to Clinton and Obama, their racial and gender identities and their identities as political candidates and public personalities.

Major news organizations should take a lead from media like Alternet to deliver us news we deserve.

I think its time to start a petition! Details to follow!