Yesterday's post received a lot of traction. It also received a lot of divisive comments on race relations and expectations. A few people were defensive right off the bat and even implied that my comments were racist. As such, I'd like to offer additional commentary on said 'commentary' from yesterday's post to clear the air a little.

First, realize that I've been a Barack Obama supporter since the time he started organizing a committee to investigate his viability as a Presidential candidate. I donated to his campaign on four separate occasions. I switched from 'undeclared' to Democrat in order to vote for him in the primary (the first primary I ever voted in). And I was usually the first in a crowd to defend Obama from scattered comments and indictments of socialism, terrorism, and any other misguided derailment attempt thrown out by ill-informed Clinton or McCain supporters. These words are not words from a disgruntled McCain voter. I'm happy Obama won.

A commenter on Current.com by the name of WhichWayIsUp thought I was stereotyping the black population and objected to my use of the word 'savior.' This person believed that white commentators using the term 'savior' in regards to Obama was racist.

I had to remind this commenter that the article written specifically stated that what I was talking about was not indicative of the entire black population - only a small segment. Regarding the use of the term 'savior' I replied thusly:

Savior simply means "a person who saves."

I agree with you completely. Calling Obama a savior [of black people] is racist in my mind, because it implies that the black race needs "saving" - which it doesn't. This goes along with the line of the Cornel West comment that I made in the article.

The black race doesn't need saving, nor does it need any president to do anything for them. They are empowered enough to succeed themselves and overcome racism.

 After our back-and-forth, we both realized that we were actually in agreement.

A defensive pushback against any comment implying that black people will be looking for a handout is natural. For hardworking black people it's completely and utterly offensive. However, to think that there won't be a segment of black people looking for handouts now that we have a black President is both naive and foolish. That statement isn't indicative of racism. It's just reality. Had John McCain won I could just have easily said that rich white people would be looking for handouts. The difference is that rich white people are already rich. If handouts never come their way, they won't be very disappointed. They still have their money. But black people expecting handouts will not only be disappointed, some will be downright enraged. This is unfair to both Barack Obama and hardworking black and white Americans across the United States.

The main point of the article was that Barack Obama has already given the black population the greatest thing he ever could. He's given them the reality that a black person can accomplish anything, including aspiring to the highest office in the free world. To ask for anything more is ignorant and detracts from this great accomplishment. The only thing that should be ask for is guidance - and what more you can do.