National treasure Dr. Maya Angelou weighs in on the Obama presidency, now and moving forward.

Photo courtesy of The Obama Diary.

Courtesy of the Guardian:

"I think we are going to see a number of people who say: 'I have no racial prejudice in my heart, not in my conversation,'" Angelou says. "But in the next few months, as we wind up to the double campaign, I tell you we are going to see some nastiness, some vulgarity, I think. They'll pull the sheets off." 

It looks like Dr. Angelou, who has vast experience with racism in America, is also painfully aware of how just how ugly things will get for President Obama and the Democrats this November.

And how does this civil right warrior judge the success of America's first African American President?

Obama has critics and doubters. Angelou, the sage of black America, now 83, has no time for them. "I think he has done a remarkable job, knowing how much he has been opposed," she says. "Every suggestion he makes, the Republicans en masse fight against him or don't vote at all." It's about him being a Democrat and being the first black president, she says.

Reflecting on that presidency, what did she expect? "I was hoping for the best. And I think I have gotten the best from him." What of his detractors? "Those are people who didn't see the morass into which he stepped." He is America's president. But he also describes himself as America's first black president. 

That, says Angelou, speaking from her home in North Carolina, has had an extraordinary impact on black America. "His physical self, just being there, his photograph in the newspapers as president of the United States; that has done so much good for the spirit of the African American. We see more and more children wanting to be like President Obama, wanting to go to school."

You know I am not sure if I am more enlightened than most, or if it is simply because I am used to seeing Barack Obama as our President, but I rarely think of him as black anymore. (Well that is until somebody on the Right says something incredibly racist of course.)

In fact, to borrow one of Stephen Colbert's ongoing gags, when I look at him I "don't see color"." Or the First Lady either for that matter.

And in the end I believe that will be the ongoing legacy left by Barack Obama.

To many, especially those from the South,  he may appear to be shockingly incongruous with their idea of how the President of this country is supposed to appear.

His darker pigment may even seem an affront to their senses.

But after his two terms are over, the door will forever be open to the next non-white leader of the free world to seamlessly take up residence in the White House.

And you know THAT might be at the root of the incredible anger inspired by this President from those firmly ensconced in the Right Wing.

In a manner of speaking, President Obama has served as the canary in the mineshaft. And once he emerges on the other side from this incredibly challenging experience, others who never thought they had any hope of attaining that highest of offices, will be inspired to set their feet on that path as well.

Which of course will mean that the days of domination by the Caucasians in America, will come to an end.

So in many ways the future of the Presidency does not only appear promising, it also appears multi-ethnic.

Did you hear that sound? That is the sound of lily white assholes puckering in frustration all along the Mason-Dixon line. Kind of gratifying isn't it?