Those voters might have actually used Obama’s historical race for the presidency as a way to justify their vote to end affirmative action programs, Howarth says.
Some voters looked at Obama and saw his example as a Black man achieving so much, that it proved there is no more need for equal opportunity programs, she adds.
Though many voted against affirmative action and gay rights issues, Americans are becoming more tolerant, says Dr. Ronald Inglehart, a professor of political science at the University of Michigan.
The country is more accepting of homosexuality but less accepting of gay marriage, says Inglehart who studies cultural trends, values and attitudes. That is akin "to putting it on par with heterosexual marriage," which requires a "heightened tolerance," he adds.
Still, Inglehart says, even a decade ago most Americans would not have accepted a Black president, which shows that the country is becoming more accepting. "Obama’s election was a huge milestone but it’s not as though it began this year, it’s in keeping with a long-term change [towards more tolerance] that’s been going on for decades."
While times are changing for the better in America, there is still more work to be done, according to Ulibarri. "Obama leaving the U.S. Senate means there will be no more African Americans there," he says. "So are we really there yet?"
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