We are now at a moment where more and more voters are showing that they are willing to elect an actual black president. In his historic and overwhelming South Carolina victory, Obama won a majority of whites under 30, along with the vast majority of African-Americans and most women. Real and urgent issues affect black people all across the nation. Endless joking about Bill Clinton's being America's first black president steers us away from serious and long-overdue conversations about race, as well as accountability on the part of both Clintons -- as well as all of the presidential candidates -- with regard to African-Americans. Even Morrison (who endorsed Obama today) might agree that her phrase has been distorted and overused, and is confusing our discussions about race today.

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