From where I stand, I feel that right now, there are two ways Barack Obama will be remembered when he eventually leaves office.
At worst, a failure.
At best, underwhelming.
Why do I think this? I've thought this over for awhile and I think I finally have the right words for it. There's no way he can live up to what is expected of the "The first black president."
It's not really his fault, it's the fault of the culture that he was unfortunate enough to be elected to lead. Ever since integration, the concept of the first black presient has been built up in people's minds. He's become a figure of myth and (more importantly) prophecy. Like something from a cheap fantasy novel.
"He will descend from the heavens, and stand atop all men. He will motion with his hand and justice and great deads will spiring forth. He shall open his mouth an wisdom shall flow like a river. He will bring light o'er all the land."
This is what the first black president has been built up to be, and it's something that no human can live up to. (The first female president will have the same problem. God help the poor guy who's chosen as the first homosexual president)
Obama is almost a sacrifice in some ways. A sacrifice to break the spell which "The first black president" holds over America. It's a sacrifice that will hopefully lead to a black president with more substance in the future.
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Also, what's with the quotation marks around first black president?