Obama, whose father was a Kenyan and mother a White American, himself has had no misgivings on the herculean task he faced in getting elected as President because of his race and name. This was reflected by his comment that getting elected to the White House would be a "leap".
The charismatic Democrat won handsomely in the November 4 presidential poll after a gruelling 21-month-long campaign in which he overcame the challenges from high-profile fellow Democrat Hillary Clinton and Vietnam War veteran Republican nominee John McCain.
Born on August 4, 1961, in Hawaii, Obama's rise to the top post demonstrates a major change in America, which has witnessed bitter racism for centuries.
Image: Obama kisses his wife, Michelle, after taking the oath of office.
Photograph: Jim Young/Reuters
Also see: Obama and Hope
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