Final answer:
Racial disparities continue to exist in the United States despite electing an African American president, as evidenced by remaining inequalities in healthcare, education, economics, and political representation.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to the various excerpts from the McNickles article, it's clear that option c) Racial disparities persist despite having an African American president is the correct answer. Even after the election of President Barack Obama, numerous aspects of racial inequality remain entrenched in American society. This includes disparities in healthcare, economic inequality, underrepresentation in political arenas, and inequality in education among African Americans. Although electing an African American president was a historical milestone, the articles articulate that this did not eliminate longstanding racial inequality and prejudice. Moreover, the Obama administration's attempt to propose policies to alleviate these disparities was met with resistance and lack of enforcement in subsequent years. Grassroots efforts in Black communities to improve local conditions offer some hope for progress toward achieving greater equality.