Chicago Sun Time’s Laura Washington euphemistically calls Obama’s relationship with the African American community complex. A more accurate term would be tenuous, fresh, new, fledgling, uncertain — suspect.

I checked in with Michael Meyers, executive director of the New York Civil Rights Coalition, who specializes in keeping tabs on African-American leadership. ''I don't hear anything from regular black folks about Obama… . He's not a star in their orbit. They think he's young, attractive, well-spoken. But I don't know anybody who takes him seriously.'' Obama's not ready, he said. Obama is burdened by a complex relationship with his people. Black voters, especially older ones, are very conservative. They believe our elected officials need seasoning. Once we get our people into office, we want them to marinate, keep the seat and bring home the bacon. Obama learned that lesson in 2000 when he challenged longtime incumbent U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush and got a good whipping. The message from black voters: Wait your turn, young man. Full

I think what Washington is afraid to say, as so many upwardly mobile Black folk are, is that Obama has no street credibility. To what degree is he “our people?” Skin color is a necessary but not sufficient condition. We should speak plainly. Quite simply he was put into power by the very forces that have dictated choices to Black folk historically – rich white folk. He is not an organically developed African American leader. He is not King or Powell (Adam or Colin); he is not Thurgood; he is not Malcolm; he is not Huey or Harold. Could he be? We'll see. As a politician, I think Obama is a hell of an operator. As a leader of the black community, he is in no way qualified. I think Black folk need to grow up and realize that, we have been and always will be commodities, traded in the imagination of the American society as some token of American good will, benevolence, democracy, equality, ingenuity, authenticity or whatever the meme of the moment is. We have to accept that our interest are not defined by the color of our skin but are determined by a complex intersection of forces. I agree with Washington we have to grow up and see beyond color. Would people be as enthusiastic about Obama if he were white? Would Black folk feel obligated to find a way to support him? But I’ll say this for Barack, he is getting there, Rule #1 Give none – ask none; never be anybody’s BOY!