Barack Obama's campaign and electoral victory demonstrated the dynamic nature of American democracy. Beginning as a special issue of "The Black Scholar, " this probing collection illustrates the impact of "the Obama phenomenon" on the future of U.S. race relations through readings on Barack Obama's campaign as well as the idealism and pragmatism of the Obama administration. Some of the foremost scholars of African American politics and culture from an array of disciplines--including political science, theology, economics, history, journalism, sociology, cultural studies, and law--offer...