White community adapts to Obama reality

By Andrea Shalal-Esa

WESTMINSTER, Maryland (Reuters) - Worried by racial tensions churned up by the U.S. presidential election, teachers at one U.S. high school braced for the worst in their majority white community the morning after Barack Obama was elected the country's first black president.

To counter what she called "unsettling bigotry" in Maryland's Carroll County, Westminster High English teacher Laura Doolan wrote a 30-minute lesson for all students to give them a chance to discuss the election and correct misconceptions, such as the widespread rumor that Obama is Muslim.

"Several teachers came to me astounded by what they were hearing. They just didn't realize that students would be so openly racist, that students would ... say, 'I don't want a black president. I don't trust black people,'" Doolan said.

Courtney Case, a white 17-year-old at the school, was unnerved by racist text messages circulating before the November 4 election. "I was completely shocked because they were from friends of mine who I didn't even know had those feelings."

In the end, there were no racial incidents at Westminster High School after Democrat Obama beat Republican John McCain, but minor physical and verbal fights did occur at several other county schools.

Carroll County is one of hundreds of majority white communities facing changing demographics that will turn the United States into a "majority minority" country -- where former minorities such as blacks and Hispanics are in the majority -- by 2042. Maryland is due to reach that point by 2025 or earlier, according to U.S. Census projections.

Observers have described Obama as a "post-racial" politician since his election campaign dwelt little on racial issues and more on how Americans can bridge divides of all kinds.

But some areas like Westminster are still coming to terms with a past that included open Ku Klux Klan rallies 20 years ago, and a rash of racist graffiti at the high school just last spring.

Located 50 miles north of Washington, which is about 70 percent black, this former farming community has seen its share of rapid growth and growing diversity.

Suburban developments now nestle between farms, and the county has ethnic restaurants, a growing Muslim community, Jewish synagogues and even a Hindu temple. But its demographics have not changed much over the years.

About 94 percent of Carroll's 170,000 residents are white, 2.2 percent are black, and even smaller numbers are Latino or Asian, according to the most recent U.S. Census data.

The county is largely Christian and conservative, backing McCain by 64 percent to Obama's 32.6 percent.

CHANGING TIMES

The days when KKK members in white robes handed out leaflets on Main Street are long past, and many residents, like Doolan, are working to improve race relations. Civic groups offer English lessons for immigrants and churches sponsor interfaith dialogues.

But many minorities say they still face subtle daily acts of discrimination and prejudice throughout the county.