Barack Obama's Victory as President Encourages Afro-Americans

A new survey shows that African-Americans' assessment of progress and race relations in America has improved more dramatically than at any time in the last quarter century.  And, President Barack Obama's move into the White House appears to be the spark that ignited this rise in optimism and hope. 

Photo: Barack Obama's Victory as President Encourages Afro-Americans

A new survey by the Pew Research Center shows that nearly twice as many African-Americans now than in 2007 say the situation of black people in the United States has improved over the last five years. This jump in optimism is the highest seen since 1984.  A majority of African-Americans also say that Mr. Obama's presidential win has improved race relations in America. 

But the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People's Chairman Julian Bond says it was one moment in a long chain of events.

"It's arguable you could say, that we should have been able to do this years and years and years ago," said Bond. "But perhaps it had to wait for the moment, for the man, for the moment-it did have to wait for the man and the moment and had to wait for an awful lot of work that had to be done leading up to this moment."

The inauguration of Barack Obama at the steps of the Capitol was more than just a beginning to a new presidency.  For many African-Americans, Mr. Obama was a living example of the endless possibilities. Young generation of americans dosn't regard female presidency as something impossible anymore.

The economy and the ongoing wars are tough problems the Afro-American president Obama needs to tackle.
 
Mr. Obama is trying a more hands-on approach to help address these problems and will present his plans later this month in his State of the Union address.

Voice of America has contributed to the report.