Hollins University Hollins Digital Commons Communication Studies Faculty Scholarship Communication Studies 2006 William Jefferson Clinton, "Racism in the United States" (16 October 1995) Jill M. Weber Hollins University,
[email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.hollins.edu/commfac Part of the Gender, Race, Sexuality, and Ethnicity in Communication Commons, and the Speech and Rhetorical Studies Commons Recommended Citation Weber, Jill M. "William Jefferson Clinton, 'Racism in the United States' (16 October 1995)." Voices of Democracy 1 (2006): 208-229. Hollins Digital Commons. Web. This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Communication Studies at Hollins Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Communication Studies Faculty Scholarship by an authorized administrator of Hollins Digital Commons. For more information, please contact
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[email protected]. Voices of Democracy 1 (2006): 208‐229 Weber 208 WILLIAM JEFFERSON CLINTON, "RACISM IN THE UNITED STATES" (16 OCTOBER 1995) Jill M. Weber The Pennsylvania State University Abstract: In "Racism in the United States," President Bill Clinton acknowledged racial differences and called upon Americans to "clean our house of racism." Maintaining that the discussion of differences was the first step in alleviating racial tension, Clinton made dialogue a centerpiece of his race initiative. Clinton's approach to civil rights and his emphasis on dialogue marked an important step in the ongoing debates over civil rights in America by illustrating a president's role in shaping such debates. Key Words: Bill Clinton, racism, civil rights, race initiative, Million Man March The 1995 O.J. Simpson trial was heralded as the trial of the century, a moniker that reflected the sensationalism and hype surrounding the legal drama: a black football star accused of killing his ex‐wife and her companion, two high profile legal teams, and an attentive viewing audience.