WHY is the black community in support of Obama?

Is it mostly because he is black? I've heard him speak before and he does sound good. But I keep getting the impression that people are supporting him because of his color and not his stand on the political issues. And that bothers me.

I would love to see an African American become president of our country. But I, personally, would prefer someone who shares the history of the blacks in this country. By that I mean, I would rather see a descendant of a slave make it into the office, rather than the son of an African---someone from an entirely different continent. Can you imagine how impowering that would be to all of the black children in this country? OMG, it would give them something to be so proud of. I don't know if Obama can do that. Being the son of a WHITE American woman and an African man... I do not believe he shares the same rich history as my husband and our children (yes, they're black).
I'm curious as to how others are feeling on this topic. TY.

Alwaysbombed---Thanks for your response. I appreciate your point of view. However, if I was to base my opinion solely on Obama's character... I would not cast of vote for him because of his history with cocaine. The last thing I want to see happen is a person in the white house that gets overwhelmed by the stress of it all and that person having an urge to go back to using cocaine again.

I'm a democrat and I live in Illinois. I've known of Obama for a few years now. I've heard him speak, I've seen what he's done here. For a while it was a toss up for me between him and Clinton but after her little crying thing she's way down on my scale. If her were white I'd vote for him too, I just like what he stands for and I think he's very fair.

Yes, not only Blacks everyone

Not everyone is voting for skin color.

Do white people always vote skin color?

Ask yourself that question.

I don't think it matters where his father came from, he was born in the USA and that makes him an American period.

People need to stop playing the race card for everything to understand how it applies to "them".

It's 2008, and not 1948. If young black children don't have any empowering role models to look up to then that's the parent's fault, not because Obama isn't a descendant of slaves.

There aren't any black Americans alive today who know anything about slavery first hand, it's all passed down through history now, in books or word of mouth. And there are many reinforcements along "racial" lines in the black community that keep the "black man gets less than white man, we need special programs" mentality going.

I can't wait till Obama becomes president so black people can stop pulling the race card for everything. I think when Obama is president, black america won't have any more excuses to prop themselves up with, and have to get up and start accepting responsibility for their futures and the lives of their children.

why are the whites supporting the whites who are running, because they are white

PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY SHOULD STOP FOCUSING SO MUCH ON ONES SKIN COLOR

why the hell does a black man have to have the life of one? I thought that we were trying to MOVE PAST THAT!

--then again, he did grow up without a dad, so I guess that moves him up a notch on the "black-o-meter"--

then again, so did I.

HE NEVER RAISES HIS COLOR AS ANY KIND OF SELLING POINT. NEVER!

No need to stereotype. Magic Johnson likes and campaigns for Hillary. I don't think it comes down to race. There are a whole lot of other forces at work in this Presidential race.

His family were slave holders. He is related to Jefferson Davis

NO its mostly bc he's the best man for the job!!!

He happens to have a black father and a white mother..

im a white women voter.. and i could care a less what color he is... hes the best man for the job!

Most black people dont vote anyways , sad fact . Honestly most "people" dont vote . Im 25 and am voting for the first time this year .

oprah supports him, so they support her supporting him

Who is Obama? Is he a muslim? No, I don't think everyone is the black community is in support of Obama. Whoever is the most qualified! And btw if I am not mistaken, he is mixed, not one or the other but a combination of both. To say he is black is an injustice to his creed. Regardless, he is an American. He might be the right man for the job. Or will it take a woman to do it?

***Vote Ross Perot!!!***

No president should empower blacks or whites , he or she should empower Americans .

I believe that if you look at the poll numbers not majority of blacks are supporting Obama, some are actually supporting Clinton and Edwards. Are you assuming that because he is black (or some portion there of) that blacks automatically support him? That's like saying all women support Hillary, right?

For over 300 hundred years this county has elected White Males for president. its time for a change. And so happen Obama is part Africa American. He may not be 100% African American descendant from slave, but its a start.

National polls show Clinton with over 50% of the black vote. Now that may change, who knows. But if he loses the nomination, black youth can say, " Hmmmm ... a black man from Harvard, he taught Constitutional Law at the University of Chicago, and he's a senator, and running for the Presidency without bringing up the race card. Maybe, just maybe I can do that, too." Black youth see a eloquent black man running who is not a Jesse Jackson or Al Sharpton and you bet they are proud of that.