‘For we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness’

On the 20th January 2009, the world watched as a black man took the reign of the world’s foremost superpower. America sees the first ever black president sworn into office. A great day for race equality. A historic moment in America's journey towards equality and justice for all its citizens.

A man who’s father ‘was black as pitch’ and ‘mother white as milk’, Barack Obama has achieved the unachievable. Martin Luther King predicted that a black person would one day take office and despite this happening later than Dr King envisaged it has happened nevertheless. In his inauguration speech, Obama barely mentioned race. The fact that he was standing before the world was enough to signify just what had happened.

Scrutiny regarding the presidency remains - that the presidential election has been glamourised by the race card. On the 20th January 2009, we all watched a black man take office. We were proud to see Obama take his oath. Believing that people should be judged by the content of their character and not their skin colour, I am somewhat unconvinced of the extent to which Dr King’s declaration was satisfied on this occasion. At that point, euphoria surrounded the black man, not the black man's policies to change America. On a deeper note however, Obama as president is monumental beyond belief. He is the American dream personified. He gives hope not just to black people but to all people, all ethnic minorities and all who hope for a better future.

Going forwards, time will tell how Obama’s presidency takes effect as the real ‘content of character’ test starts now… A man ‘whose father less than sixty years ago might not have been served at a local restaurant can now stand before you to take a most sacred oath’ – a powerful message that inspires hope and faith. A reminder that ‘all are equal, all are free, and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness’ as Obama remarked in his Race Speech.

'Discrimination is a hellhound that gnaws at Negroes in every waking moment of their lives to remind them that the lie of their inferiority is accepted as truth in the society dominating them' Martin Luther King. America has moved forward.

For me, I am sceptical that what happened in America can happen in the UK, my home. But that I will explore another time… For now let us enjoy the happenings in America as we one day may enjoy here….