Barack Obama, Jesse Jackson and Political Expectations

Barack Obama is the first African American to secure the nomination of a major political party. Black leaders and public intellectuals--who never thought that would happen—are struggling over how to respond. If Obama is moving toward the center in order to win, is he abandoning the struggle of black people? Has his very success redeemed the legacy of slavery and discrimination? Also, Treasury Secretary Paulson seeks to assuage new mortgage fears, the president of Sudan may face formal charges of genocide and crimes against humanity because of the violence in Darfur.