If you think Barak Obama understands black America because his skin is somewhat less than white, I think you are sadly mistaken. Sen. Obama's father left home when his son was very young. Obama was raised by his white mother, living with his grandparents in Hawaii for the better part of his youth. Whatever the Senator knows of the experience of African Americans, he has learned in a relatively brief time and as an observer, not a participant. It's possible that Sen. Clinton is in a better position to represent black Americans, as she has had more time to observe, if not to experience first-hand. Just how is it that this issue has become so important? No candidate can have the exerience of all minority Americans. The issue is, can they empathize, can they imagine, do they care?