Another black American that does not get any press is Kay James who heads the personnel office for all of the U.S. Government. A great LADY!
Another thing about Barack Obama is that his African heritage may not be merely of black tribal origin, but he may be perhaps part Arabic as well. I am well aware that nobody can choose their ancestry, but it would explain the predisposition to a potential connection with Islam, which was greatly reinforced spending a childhood in Indonesia and in a Muslim household.
We hear little of Barack Obama's mother, who was originally from Kansas, I believe.