'Remind me why I was so afraid'

I was watching President Barack Obama’s 100-day press conference last week and the strangest thing happened. I didn’t think he was black.

It wasn’t that I thought he was white or some other ethnicity. He just seemed like the president. Smart, thoughtful and confident.

Truthfully it didn’t take 100 days to have this reaction. For all the anticipation, disbelief, worry and pride about electing the nation’s first black president, once we did it, it seemed so normal.

It makes me stop and think, “So why did we think we wouldn’t be able to do this?”

I’m not saying what the country accomplished wasn’t a big deal. It was a huge, important step and it made me proud of us in a way I’ve never been before. It’s already made a difference in how we see ourselves and each other. According to recent polls and interviews, a lot of Americans are feeling that race relations have improved. White and black people say their conversations are less guarded. They even venture to talk about things they previously considered taboo.

No doubt about it, we took a big step in November. It’s just funny that once a barrier is removed, you look back and you can’t remember why it was there in the first place.       

Maybe that’s how Southerners felt after segregation was outlawed. Maybe they asked themselves what had they thought would happen if they drank out of the same water fountains as Negroes?

I do wonder if some of the virulent, almost-crazed opposition to Obama is racially tinged. Even so, it’s a small if loud-mouthed minority. Given his approval ratings, Americans are having no trouble accepting him as president.

I’m reminded of the time when we thought it was a big deal for women to drive a bus or work as firefighters or police officers. Now, it’s unremarkable. In fact, in the East Bay it seems that most of the bus drivers are women.

Photo by BL...

Here’s a prediction. I’m betting that in the not too distant future gay marriage will be legal. And people will look back and wonder why they were so threatened by the idea of two people wanting to get married.

We have a black president and it just seems so normal.

For audio version of the piece, click here.