As the ’08 presidential election draws nearer, a certain issue has been brought to the voters’ attention. Barack Obama , IL (D), presidential hopeful has been in the news for what many see as all the wrong reasons, with his “blackness” brought into question. The media seems to have put the spotlight on Obama’s racial ethnicity and chosen to ignore all of his honorable work. So is Barack Obama ‘black’ enough? I say, who cares?

   Does the color of his skin really have anything to do with what kind of a president he could be? No, it doesn’t. It’s ridiculous how the media has made it their duty to determine who or who isn’t ‘black’ enough? It’s shameful and unfortunate that in this day and age, race would be an issue at all. Obama has been scrutinized so harshly, yet he continues to walk with his head held high.. Doesn’t this show his true character and integrity? Are these qualities supposed to be singular to a certain ethnicity? I don’t think so. And isn’t it the character and integrity of the person that we should be looking for in a President?

   Yes, Barack Obama is biracial and has a direct connection to Africa .  His father, Barack Obama Sr., was born and raised in a small village in Kenya . But, Barack grew up with his mother in Hawaii , and for a few years in Indonesia . Obama is also articulate, young, and well educated. And, aren’t those some of the qualities that what one might expect or even hope for in a presidential candidate?

 Although his biracial identity has helped him gain a following in Middle America , it’s also opened a gap for others to question his authenticity as a black man.  Still others identify him as the first “mainstream African- American”. He’s like a rock star. He’s on the Oprah Winfrey show, BET, etc…

     But back to the question of, “is Barack Obama black enough? What is ‘black enough’? The reality is that Obama is married to a black woman, goes to a predominately black church and deals with many of the same stereotypical prejudices black men face. Yet, must he define himself as anything more than an individual willingly and ready to do the work necessary to make this country great. He is no stranger to giving back to his community; as shown by the work he has done with the poor on the south side of Chicago , where he resides. 

  If the media is going to label and categorize a candidate, why single out Barack Obama, why not every candidate? Hilary Clinton; is she woman enough? How about Rudy Giuliani and John McCain; are they conservative enough? Or is Bill Richardson Mexican enough?

   In the long run, whether our next president is black, brown, a woman, or even purple or green it certainly shouldn’t matter. What is important; will the individual who’s running this country do a good job? Will they turn our current administration’s wrongs into rights? Will they listen to the people? Will they make the United States a stronger nation? That’s what really counts.

  The question of whether Barack Obama is ‘black enough’ is insignificant. What we should be concerned with, Is Barack Obama’s voting history, his beliefs, and what he plans to do if he becomes president.