A World Fixated With Prejudice?

Isn't it amazing that, at the end of a week that has seen such a prophetic change in the world, the world's media, sports and political pundits, seem to be fixated on the word 'black'?

As I watched in the wee hours of Wednesday morning, unable to sleep for worrying about whether I could pay my next VAT bill, Sky News announced the election of America's first black president.

I was pleased - but I hadn't wanted Barack Obama to win because of the colour of his skin, but because the other guy reminded me of oven chips.  And because Obama just makes so much more sense than the guy whose name sounds like a Bruce Willis character.

In contrast, as Lewis Hamilton thrilled crowds around the world with a last-gasp move in the closing stages of the Brazilian Grand Prix to become Formula One World Champion, I was disappointed.

Not because he is black, but because I simply hadn't wanted him to win it just yet.

Naturally, it is excellent for British sport to have an Englishman at the top once again, and Hamilton is certainly a superstar of the future, but as Timo Glock slid wide on a wet track to let the boy from Stevenage through, I couldn't help but think that Hamilton didn't deserve it.  Not just yet, anyway.

After all, since entering Formula One less than two years ago, he has been blessed with a car easily capable of winning.  Nine podium positions from his first nine races pays testament to that.  Other champions - Fernando Alonso and Kimi Raikkonen, for example - have had to work their way up from back-of-the-grid teams.

Yet all the world's media could do was focus on how Lewis is the sport's first black champion.

Brian Viner, writing in Thursday's Independent, summarised the views of many at the end of his article.  After comparing parental tactics with the president-elect, he concluded that if a black man can be elected President of the United States, anything can happen.

It's probably true, but the colour of neither man's skin bothers me.  It is their ability to do the job.

Obama, I am certain, will do a lot to restore the faith of the world in America and bring peace and financial stability back to the globe.  Not because he is black, but because he knows what he's talking about.

Hamilton, it is obvious, could well go on to be statistically more successful than Michael Schumacher.  Not because he is black, but because he is supremely talented behind the wheel.  And he has a good car.

Yet the prejudices of our civilisation - locally and internationally - seem to make us forget one very important fact that both men share: from mixed-race parentage, Barack Hussein Obama II and Lewis Carl Davidson Hamilton are as much white as they are black.

We would do well not to focus on the colour of any man's skin, but on their ability to do their job.  Whatever role it might be.