The context of Obama...

Articles like this one from the Washington Post worry me. Money quote:

"The question of how Obama chooses to define and approach race looms large as he moves closer to formally launching his campaign next month. Although he rides a wave of enthusiasm among Democrats who like his vision of a different kind of politics and see him as an alternative to Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (N.Y.), it is not clear that his multiracial message can excite black voters hungry for affirmation of their top concerns."

Articles like this do and, I presume, will continue to confuse his multiracial background with his message. Of course it is early into his presidencial bid and he hasn't yet had the time to introduce himself properly to the general public, but as someone who's read The Audacity of Hope I see his message as anything but relying on race. Yes, he does recognize his heritage and has an entire chapter of his book devoted to race relations in the US; but, like the rest of Audacity, he talks this subject in the context of its changing affect on the American fabric, and how this issue falls lock step into the issues of class and economy that affect all Americans. One of his greatest challenges will be defining himself as something other than "the black guy" but I feel he's already on the right path. My worry is that he will be traveling faster than the rest of the media.