We've witnessed history.

I don't think being black is anything special and don't care which skin colour someone has. So I don't see the significance of an event that is neither remarkable nor surprising.

You should find it remarkable because it's never happened before. It's not about color, it's about evidence of change and progress in this country.

If it's not about colour, than what exactly has just happened that has never happened before?

So now does that mean people can stop complaining that "the man" is holding them back?

Unfortunately not everyone has that attitude.  America's been pretty caught up on race.  This is a major step in moving past those petty thoughts.

It's a start.  

~Zoo

At least now 'the man' is not the president.

No, it isn't.

I didn't see a single news outlet, American or otherwise, write about the new president-elect without mentioning his skin colour.

A major step moving past those petty thoughts would have been if either candidate had won and their skin colour wouldn't have mattered to the voters or the media.

Again, if you get why this is historic, you know nothing about the history of our nation. The president has always been a white guy. Black people and women were not even able to vote initially in the history of this country. It's historic and important for us all on how we have grown as a nation. It shows how opportunty is extended to everyone is this country who is willing to work for it.

If you don't get that, you don't get America

If you really think much will change, your a fool.  This was a election that was won on three things.  First, pent up hate for Bush fueled by the Irag war (his fault) and the meltdown of the economy (not his fault, rather the dems).  Second, it was purchased through aggresive marketing.  There are many sheep in this country who as wow'd by glitz and glamour (ever wonder why Dancing with Stars et al. are so popular?).  Third, Obama is black which was the added gimmick the DNC needed this time around.  You could sprinkled in that he was a great speaker etc, but you have to balance that with his lack of experience.

I far one recognize the milestone that was achieved because a black man won the presidency.  For that, I am truely happy to see.  Unfortunately, what won't change is the entitlements we provide the black community because of the past sins.  NAACP, UNICEF and affirmative action are all programs that served a important purpose at the right time.  Having a black man win the election is evidence that these programs helped pave the way.  We have laws now that protect all against discrimination and humiliation (except people of faith of course), black CEO's, congress people, lawyers, tv stars, movie stars and we even have Oprah!  Now with a black president you have to wonder if it isnt time to shut down some of these programs lest they begin to be viewed as reverse discrimination...

I think this historical event that will change America for the better regardless of his performance in office. The racial divide in this country has just collapsed and I hope minorities can take away the right lessons from this and realize that they can become productive citizens of their country.

The reaction around the world is quite amazing, it's like all the wounds were healed overnight and the USA has again become the land of opportunity for all. So many forget America's biggest export is America and how important it is to the economy too keep her name from becoming a dirty word.

If Obama's move toward the center wasn't all political I think he'll make a decent president. If he goes along with everything Pelosi and Reed barf up this we be another carter administration.

That's next in line.  Thing is we've finally broken the color barrier for the office and yes...people are mentioning it because for the last couple centuries that's never happened here. People are still caught up on race and probably will be for awhile...but there is a lot of significance here.

Baby steps.

~Zoo

Thank you Leauki, it takes a person from out side the US boarders to point to us just how hypocritical our own words are. To say it has nothing to do with race and then claim it to be historical is kind of a contradiction. This is history in the making, not because he was a Democrat, not because there has not been a Democrat in Office for centuries, not because 98% of people voted for him. This was historical because he is Black, minority and Muslim, plain and simple.

No... now it means the "man" is black. Do you really think the "oppressed" will now find salvation here in the US? 

According to Obama...... yes

But then again, who is "oppressed" in the US?

Oh, I believe I do.

Your country abolished slavery long before most other countries (but long after the British Empire did it). Your black minority had second-level citizen status when Germany was busy burning down Jewish homes and killing their inhabitants. And you had special civil rights laws at a time when most countries in the world still practiced open racism as a law.

It is the contents of one's character that counts, not skin colour.

Abraham Lincoln probably knew this. Martin Luther King knew it. It's one principle of the Republican party.

Until 1919 women were not allowed to vote in most countries. Blacks could already vote in the US since the 1860s which is why the Democrats came up with lots of laws making it difficult or impossible for blacks to vote.

And whomever the media support. I already knew the opportunity bit.

I never really "got" those in America that find skin colour important for _any_ reason.

I agree with all you said except the statement above. The Halloween "hanging" of Palin in effigy this year was not illegal, but if someone did the same to an Obama mannequin that would have been a hate crime. Not everyone is protected equally under the law.

Palin cost McCain all the swing votes. I honestly don't see the point in energizing people whom are going to vote for you already. What poll has told the Republicans that America wants a good ol boy or girl in office?

I must have missed that part of history when blacks hung whites.

And that's really the important part, isn't it?

I don't think we have witnessed history. I think we are witnessing history now.

Important and obvious to most, the difference is symbolism.

There will always be racism in some form as long as there are differences that can categorize someone, even an accent can get you labeled. Just because the US has come farther than most doesn't mean it's no longer a factor. It's in fact still a large part of the mind set of blacks here as witnessed through Reverend Write's sermons and the cries from New Orleans.

Agreed.  It was not a matter of if, but when.

No, "the man" is the president.  Hillary was not elected.

Charles -- it amazes me that you've gone around on a bunch of threads talking about the ignorance of Obama voters and then you post this.  What part of Obama is CHRISTIAN are you failing to understand?

Being the first at anything is historically significant. If Hillary would have won being the first woman president would have been historically significant. Obviously neither being black nor a woman is an accomplishment on it's own.

I glad in your world only minority can be victims of hate. I guess the term liberty and justice for all doesn't mean spit for you either. Maybe if your neighbor hauled a likeness of your mother up a tree, you'd consider that a hoot and good fun too. While I care about the past, I'm concerned about NOW. I don't condone hanging anyone (innocent through the judiciary of a crime) or anyone in effigy, for kicks or not.

You seriously don't understand the significance of a mock lynching of a black man. Oh and screw you for suggesting I approve of that appalling behavior. I think it was a hate crime just no where near the significance of a mock lynching of a black man. From Wikipedia: Hate crimes (also known as bias motivated crimes) occur when a perpetrator targets a victim because of his or her membership in a certain social group usually defined by racial group, religion, sexual orientation, disability, ethnicity, nationality, age, gender, gender identity, or Political affiliation.

Funny. A week ago I would have thought this to be crazy. But living in the moment I totally agree