Just out of curiosity, why is Obama considered the first African American president? If he is 50% white and 50% black, is he to be considered black? Why isn't he considered white based upon the other 50%? That would make him just another white President, wouldn't it? If you want to call him the first non-white President, that would be more accurate, wouldn’t it?

Just out of curiosity, why is it so difficult for you to acknowledge what and who he is and what he calls himself? Do you honestly think he's white and looks white? Is Colin Powell white? Is Halle Berry white?

Labeling all people of mixed heritage non-white would replace the old N-word with an even worse one. It would imply that the standard, default, preferable race is white and anyone else is, well, lacking in whiteness and therefore of lesser value.

James, African American has to do more with nationality than color, which weakens your comment.
In answer to your first question, because he is the first African American president. In answer to your next two questions, are all African Americans black? Are all Americans white? Calling Obama the first non-white president would be another way of looking at it, but not more accurate.

I say it shouldn't matter. It's way past time to drop all the colors into the melting pot we were taught that we lived in while attending grade school & just identify everyone as American.

Just color me purple.

Does it make a difference whether Barack Obama is black or white? None of the African American nationality really know if they are truly black. The only thing we should be considering is working together to make this nation what it once was and be proud to be American. One nation, not divided, but ready to climb aboard and assist our President in turning around things as best he can. We all know promises were made, but remember it is not just his decision. He has to work with Congress and the Senate in order to make things work and be successful.

I partially agree with James. As the grandmother of a biracial granddaughter, I would hope she would put just as much importance on her Caucasian heritage. My ancestral family originates from many nationalities (Irish, Jewish, Polish, Russian, British) and I am proud of all of them. But I just call myself American.

Here's a question. Why is he referred to as African American and not just American? Even though in his speech he did say we are Americans, I'm referring to people in general. When did American become the last name? African American, Mexican American, Asian American. I realize the abundance of different cultures is what makes us America, but sometimes I just wish that as a country we could remember our past but embrace our present and future with the fact that we are Americans through and through. Just Americans 100%

I have been reading your postings for years and I have been blessed, challenged, and enriched by them. For the first time I find myself in stark disagreement with you. The term you used that I cannot reconcile is "unequivocal support."

When a president is making decisions that produce harm to the nation's people, decisions that lack moral or ethical clarity, we should not engage in unequivocal support of that person. Each person decides those lines on their own, but it seems inherently wrong to advocate support for a president who engages in policy and lawmaking that puts large groups of individuals in daily conflicts of conscience. That comes with our daily lives as it is. We do not expect support of presidents who engage in illegal activity, but not all that is legal is moral.

What would Dr. Martin Luther King have said about all of this discussion with regards to race in light of his "I Have A Dream" speech? Dr. King stated, "I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character."

Call me naive, but I propose we take Dr. King's words to heart and mind and start voting, hiring, and admitting based on merit and the content of character (Trustworthiness, Respect, Responsibility, Fairness, Caring, & Citizenship) and leave race and gender out of the political, hiring, and college admissions process.

The true color runs red through all our body.

I find the commentary about race misses the point. Race is in no way a reason to vote or not to vote for someone. We really need to look at the underlying qualities, the beliefs, the policies of a candidate. However, our society and the press focuses on superficial items like skin color or eloquence. Neither really defines a person. I voted for McCain because I felt he would better direct the country in accordance with my beliefs. Frankly, I would have rather had another choice but my preferred candidate - Mitt Romney - didn't make it that far. I will support my country but that doesn't mean I have to conform my opinions to match those of the sitting or soon-to-be sitting president. I'm quite worried about the direction our country is now likely to head as a result of this election - socialism. Ultimately I'd like us to have politicians who tell the whole truth and not the "truth" they want us to hear.

The really sad issue for me about the current state of politics is that we cannot seem to express our disagreements in a civil way. We need passion on issues even when they are 180 degrees from each other and it is so unfortunate that we can't have some good old-fashioned debates expressing our view without being called racist just because we don't support "illegal" immigration.

The political speak by both major parties seems to be largely focused on trashing the other side with little interest in what is in the best interest of America.

Let us all stay grounded in reality and give credence to the fact that Barack is a human being who became Ivy League, Harvard Law Review, etc. and now President-elect because of his ideas...not his money, his race, or his national parentage. Intellect and the ability to lead can never be harnessed by a color. Let us all take measure for his accomplishments, and remember his dear wife also, distinguished leader among women that she is too!

First,let me say that I voted for Obama. Not because he's white, black, or any other color, but simply because I believe he will make a better President than McCain. My question is still: why is he considered the first black President? Why is Tiger Woods considered the first black golfer to win the Masters? Isn't he also the first Asian to win the Masters? He is just as much Thai as black, so why all the reference to black? My original comment was more a condemnation of the media's and general public's appetite for racially labeling people, especially when it is difficult to get those labels right.

John asks "Do you honestly think he's (Obama) white and looks white?" This points out the absurdity of the general population and the exact reason for my first question. John apparently thinks Obama is black because he LOOKS black and for no other reason. I guess that's why he thinks Tiger is black and not Asian. I guess a racist is still a racist regardless of the flag he's waving.

I'm sure Amanda meant well, but she is confusing the terms African American and black to mean different things in my first comment. Saying that "African American has to do more with nationality than color" suggests that she doesn't know what a synonym is or doesn't own a Thesaurus. However, I will take her ignorance any day over John's veiled bigotry.

Quoting Martin Luther King is great, but if blacks voted for Obama just because he's black, aren't they going against King's dream also? You can't tell me that Oprah Winfrey and Colin Powell didn't back Obama just because he's black. I also long for a world where color is irrelevant and hopefully this is the first step toward that goal. But it will take all Americans, acting regardless of race, to make it happen. We are all Americans and it's about time we came together as such and stop letting cultural labels define us as otherwise.

I find celebrating Obama's race to be a challenging issue. On one hand, I look at the job of CINC as the most important one in the world, and accordingly, I think this is the last place I'd ever want to care about race. I honestly don't care what the president is as long as he's the best person for the job. Similarly, if someone said, "Well, he's a nice guy" or "He's from my state," it's just as bad because they're not answering the question "Is he the best for the job?"

I feel like Americans' reasons for voting for Obama were quite distressing. "To give hope for future generations of African Americans" "To be a part of history," etc. If those are truly the reasons, then go enact those in other places than the office of the President. I'm not saying Obama will not be a good president, but if we end up in trouble with him, trouble won't differentiate and say, "Well, he IS the first black president." Any trouble or any success we encounter will be just as bad or good as with any white president. The fact that he is black will not make a difference.

One possible benefit that could come from him being black is his upbringing, but that is also a far cry from the majority of African Americans today. Raised by a white grandmother in Hawaii, attending the best private school on the island, attending Harvard, and THEN going to work in Chicago in his late 20s doesn't necessarily put him in touch.

Also, we've had presidents with poor upbringings, and they weren't necessarily better or worse on account of their upbringing. Their underlining morals and values are what made them great.

Conversely, ignoring his ethnicity would be ignoring his individuality, which we treasure as Americans. Still, I struggle with this idea in the highest office in the land.