Apple Pie and Fried Chicken

I don't know but I think I am allowing myself to get excited.

The thick cloud of cynicism and apathy is starting to dissipate, replaced with a faint mist of hope and optimism.

Barack Obama the much maligned(at least in my corner of the blogosphere) underrated Presidential Candidate is chugging along.

In the past, whenever a black candidacy was announced it was usually accompanied by a laugh track. Everyone in the newsroom knew there was no serious chance of winning a Primary beyond South Carolina.

Most regard these announcements with caution. It always seemed like a fitting way to measure the black consensus, find out where we are at on the issues. Make it a bit easier to spin us and ultimately earn our vote.

Bill Clinton (the unofficial first black president) reminded us all about that

The best part of all this is Obama and the classy way he (or I should say his handlers)has run his campaign.

When Obama first announced his candidacy the national newsmedia and ,many of the pundits had to be issued a confidential press release to pronounce his name correctly. I am assuming this because the widespread and annoying mispronunciation stopped abruptly. I also would have done it myself.

I cringed, listening to NPR "well it seems Barrack has a legitimate chance to make some waves"

Barrack?- Army Barrack

I have a friend named Jamal (Jah-mall) all his teachers used to pronounce his name Jamm-el (Jammle). To this day he still suffers from chronic correction syndrome. Bosses, DMV, know one gets it right.

Simply annoying.That is soo lame. Just like Barrack.

There seemed to be a slight resistance to acknowledge his ethnicity like he could somehow pass as white.

It is soo important to be acceptable, isn't it?

The quick and classy move to correct the pronunciation helped pave the way to legitimacy.

In our heart of hearts we know when we are Anglocizing-at least I would if I was white (at least I hope I would).

Obama's claim to a post racial society is his self fulfilling prophecy. He knows just like most of black America it is, at best, a concept.

He also knows the balance of political power will instantly swing to the right if he wins the candidacy. As political strategist he is brilliant he has already courted the evangelicals and according to many polls could beat McCain

But the post-racial statement fits like a glove with White America; the only segment of society that thinks racism does not exist.Unfortunately it does.

But guess what?

Their is an equal opportunity for misery and poverty-plenty of room at the bottom.

The cleanliness in this race is encouraging, but it is also indicative of our lack of direction. There is no clear agenda for either candidate.

No lynchpin issue that will galvanize America.

The economy? Ready for change?

Oil and Tobbacco have run their course; smart money will invest in The emerging green economy. That is, if you look ahead.

For once, making money will be good for the planet.

Good for our lives.

I hope that is the lynchpin that galvanizes us all.