Let me add, that I think it truly would've been nice to see a woman become President. But, maybe next time we'll have a minority woman run for President. Now won't that be something that the country would have to think heavily over before endorsing. I think the U.S. is not quite ready to hang their hat on that rack yet. But, one can always hope.

Nevertheless, the citizens of the U.S. have shown that a man of color can become the president of what is thought to be the most powerful country on the planet. That may be arguable to some, but that's not the point of this article.

It truly was a momentous occasion to see Senator Obama relatively come out of nowhere and then win the election, and race. He was an eloquent speaker, he challenged one to think. He proffered interesting and insightful answers to some tough questions. However, like all 43 men before him, the talk is going to be tested to see just how far it was above the walk that is going to occur during the next four years. But, that is where the historical similarities end.

Personally, I haven't paid much attention to the presidential races during the past 16 years I've been in the United States. But, this one was worthy to watch. We all know, at least those of us who have been following the news reports, that the world economy is not doing too well right now. And, without going into any multisyllabic economic terms, jargon and shoptalk, suffice it to say that things need to change.

Now everybody most likely is banking on the next President to spearhead that change. Is that possible? Can one man save the world from itself right now? Perhaps. But more likely not.

Can one man with the power of the U.S. President cause the rest of the world to pay attention? Of course. It's been proven over and over again.

But, can a man of color go beyond the biased and racial view that is present no matter with whom he is present with or presenting to? No. It's there.

The United States has a black President. And I'm glad for that. But, the world may not be just yet ready to hold this man in the position of power and authority that he was granted. I believe that he will be seen as a man of minority first, and then the President of the United States. That's a given fact.

I can attest to this statement, as this has been my experience many, many times during my life. I'm not of black descent, rather, Native Canadian and specifically from the Cree First Nation. I'm also half Caucasian/German. But that half isn't seen when someone sees a picture of me. They see a man of a minority 'race'. They see a man of color first.

They relate to that man of color. They interact from their own perhaps unknown and unconscious bias that we all have towards something and someone 'different'. Even if that difference is color.

We don't like 'different'. We like everyone to be like us.

Not them. Us.

We want similarity. We want sameness and common and pronounced expectations of being akin to others and the environs around us.

It's human nature to seek out similarities in others. And, unfortunately, to push away differences. Even if that difference is only the difference in depth that the pigment penetrates our upper skin layer. Or not.

I remember growing up in Canada and during my school years I was never, and I mean never, seen as a Native boy. I wasn't ever asked if I was 'Indian'. I wasn't ever asked if I was 'white'. I was asked if I was pretty much every other minority group in the world, but not what I truly was. Why not?

Because I wasn't seen as Native. I wasn't seen as white. I was different. I wasn't like the others. I was darker than the whites. And I was lighter than the full bloods. That made me different. And that made others treat me differently. Not always with malice and indifference. Just differently. Cautious interplay comes to mind as a descriptor.

Of course, this continues into my adulthood, even here in Arizona. I have long hair down to my lower back and I keep it braided during my work days so that I look more professional in the attire I wear to the work environment in City Hall.

But, even when I'm out walking the city streets I know that people don't know what to make of me. Still.

I've had local Arizona natives ask me if I'm 'Indian'. I've had Caucasians and other people from minority groups ask me similar questions. Why? Because I don't look like the other people, nor the other natives down here. Again...I look 'different'.

Even in my dress slacks and button down long-sleeve shirts, and polished squared-toed dress shoes.

I look different.

I do look different.

I am different.

Different is good.

Different is what we all are, after all.

We're all different.

Yet, we're all the same. We're all one 'race'. We're all one people.

By the people, and for the people. Right? Isn't that what the United States Constitution included?

I'm one of the people. Barack Hussein Obama is one of the people. Yet, we're both seen and will always been seen as men of color first.

Is that unfortunate? Obviously not, for Barack. It was downplayed as a factor in the presidential race, per his own request. And so it should've been. Skin color doesn't matter. But, again, depends upon who is asked.

I ask you:

You've read my words.

You've heard soon-to-be President Obama speak.

And you've seen him win.

I work in City Hall in an Arizona city. A servant of the public.

As President, Barack Obama is a servant of the People, the entire United States, and even the world.

Does that matter though? Does both of us being men of color make a difference, essentially?

Time will tell. More people have seen beyond his color and seen into what he is and what he stands for. That is what counts.

But, again, distill out the politics...

Separate the dross from the substance...

Remove the 'white' from White House...

...And one is left with the undeniable fact that a man of color is in charge of the United States. In this case a man who a mere 143 years ago could've been owned as a slave simply because he was a black man.

Fortunately, the United States people, at least the majority of them, have shown that they now truly are color blind.

Hail to the Chief, and to the new colors of the United States of America: Red, White, Black and Blue.

It's about time.

Written by Andre Best
President, Ultimate Results, Inc.
http://www.andrebest.com
'Learn About Life From Another Perspective'

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