President Obama's Journey Through Race to Reach The White House

Ever since Barack Obama's first appearances as a presidential candidate, he has always been faced with racial prejudices. Many Americans were in awe that a half white, half African would be running for president, let alone having a female running too. With this, President Obama has always had to deal with the negative comments to his campaign, in and out of office.

In the first days of Obama announcing to Springfield, Illinois that he will seek the 2008 Democratic nomination for president; many were already speculating if a black candidate would really make it as president. Before Barack Obama, Reverend Jesse Jackson, Alan Keyes and Reverend Al Sharpson, all ran for president, but none of these black candidates were taken seriously. So many were asking the question of "Why take Barack Obama seriously as a black presidential candidate?" Even though Obama knew he would have to deal with the negatives that came with being a black candidate, he still proclaimed early on in his campaign that he would not let the color of his skin hinder his career. And he has not let that happen.

However, during Obama's early days of campaigning, he did face much hardship with race as well as if he would be a suitable presidential candidate for the Democratic Party. At first, Barack Obama had a bitter battle between Hillary Clinton for the Democratic nomination, which turned out as a victory in his favor. Also, throughout Obama's battle with receiving the Democratic nomination, his longtime pastor, Reverend Jeremiah A. Wright Jr. begin making controversial remarks that ended up maybe hurting Obama's chances for the Democratic nomination. Thus, in the end causing Obama to leave his pastor and church. At this point in Obama's campaign, many Americans thought that this was the beginning of the end for him, but Obama turned that around in a speech addressing his ex pastor's controversial remarks. With this speech, Barack Obama's showed all of the United States that he was ready for the challenge of becoming the United States' first black president.

Once Barack Obama was successfully nominated as the Democratic Presidential candidate, he and John McCain began their battle for the presidency. At this time, many African Americans like Reverend Jesse Jackson began to say that Barack Obama was not "black enough" to become the first black president of the United States. In July of the election year, Reverend Jesse Jackson was heard saying, "Barack's been, um, talking down to black people on this faith-based… I want to cut his (EXPLETIVE DELETED) off. Barack, he's talking down to black people." With that statement, it showed how many African Americans like Reverend Jesse Jackson felt that since Obama did not grow up in a "black" household, he can not truly be the first black president if he won the election. Even with this comment, Obama was still able to overcome racial prejudices and was still able to receive most of votes. Thus, making him the first black president of the United States, which shows that Obama did not let race prevent him from becoming president.