The Soloist, Contributor

So, it has happened for the first time at last. (remember that '70s phrase?) This in spite of the fact that so many people from all over the globe - and of all ages too, never thought it would come to pass in their lifetime. The United States of America will finally have a black leader when president-elect Barack Obama takes office next January.

The one thing I know for sure is that he'd better prepare himself to surpass all the achievements of the 43 presidents who have gone before him. Somehow, our race just has to be better, faster, stronger, brighter, to prove we deserve our rights. All a part of the gospel according to the 'majorities' of this world.

More protection

He'd better make sure he has a hundred times the protection around him so that the crackpots don't go using him or his family for target practice. Because, even with millions of white voters backing him, there are those who will still see Obama as the 'outsider'. In spite of the mandate, racism will not end.

The office Obama now holds seemed so unattainable, but he proved, yes, we can!

Meanwhile, many Jamaicans will never get pass our own little colour lines. We were brought up to believe that we could achieve anything we set our minds to, but history shows that skin shades have kept many of our darker hued brothers and sisters out of some opportunities. Some organisations are a good example where, up to the '60s, the only qualification you needed to get a job was a lighter complexion with so called 'good hair'.

Blue-chip boards

And what about the composition of our nation's blue-chip boards? They are, for the most part, inhabited by members of the same families and their heirs and successors. What about Jamaicans who spout patriotism but import domestic help of other races when so many unemployed people live here?

But, worst of all, what about the fact that so many of us Jamaicans continue to be our own worst enemies? We tear each other down with bad-mind and grudgeful utterances and deeds when there is economic success and we openly rejoice when things go a little bad for our previously prosperous brothers and sisters. And this just makes 'others' look at us and unite to their own collective good. If we learn nothing else from Obama's victory, we should learn to look in the mirror and love all the beautiful dark shades of who we see. I am sure we can.

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