It is particularly striking to realize that Obama's parents' bi-racial union was illegal not that long ago.
The 45-year-old father of four should have been riding high; after all, he was de facto royalty atop a burgeoning beer empire, albeit one that would later become the target of boycotts over alleged racial discrimination, union-busting, and far-right politics.
It amounts to a stance, from which may be inferred your electoral leanings, your racial politics, your union sympathies and the general sunniness of your disposition.
Contrary to the revisionist statements emanating from the State Trooper's union, racial profiling was an accepted practice among some troopers until very recently.
In addition to giving interviews and busily visiting key racial, ethnic and union groups, the senator is counting on a highly disciplined ground game — put in place after Republicans swept into state offices in 2002 — that does everything from sending out door-knocking union members to providing hotel maids and blackjack dealers free bus rides to early voting sites.
In Harlem he was surrounded by the leaders of the struggle against racial inequality, including union leader A. Philip Randolph, writer James Weldon Johnson, Rep. Adam Clayton Powell Jr. and Du Bois.
George P. Shultz, who was a Secretary of Labor during Nixon's first term (and later held other Cabinet positions), helped increase racial diversity in unions.
Herbert Hill, who as the N.A.A.C.P.'s labor director in the 1950's and 1960's was one of the loudest and most effective voices raised against racial discrimination by unions, died on Sunday in Madison, Wis.
On April 8th people told reporters that they feel good about their city's future, and voted two-to-one for the man in charge, Richard Riordan.Tom Hayden, the state senator who was the mayor's main challenger, had trouble mobilising what should have been his natural backers: trade unions, racial minorities and Hollywood liberals.
"Those who care about the fairness of elections, the future of unions, racial disparities in universities, the rights of women, or the future of our planet, should care about who appoints the next justices," Clinton wrote.
