I totally and wholeheartedly supported Barack Obama. If I were an American I would vote for him. I think that he is the right leader for 20th century America. I hope that he brings change that the USA and the whole world so desparately needs. I wish he becomes a president of peace and all Americans

Beata Niedzielska, Warsaw, Poland

Excuse me, but all this question about the color of Obama is boring. It's normal that a country like the US with a majority of people not white elected a mixed president. This not means we all white must making children mixed., otherwise our freedom is under attack.

sonia, milan , italy

I find it interesting that all seem to miss the fact that he is among the youngest of all president elects. History may show that the most important thing he can do, to bring any about real change, is already happening...he has inspired real, and needed optimism around the world, no?

Matt G, Sioux City, IA, US

All those talks about his genetic makeup and skin colour are quite very irritating. Whichever is the case Obama, a son of a Kenyan economist and an American anthropologist, is by no way related to the ones MLK called "sons of former slaves".

Daniel Lippenstift, Frankfurt,

I voted for Obama and am thrilled to bits. He is not the World's first black president There are numerous black presidents in Africa. The head of Brazil is of mixed race. Moreover, Obama is the president-elect of the USA, not the world. You have your own leaders. Barack is an American

Marlene, Alexandria, VA, USA

I voted for John McCain but I congratulate Barack Obama and I will support him as the leader of the United States of America. I pray for him and the other leaders of nations. I pray that they will be wise and honorable and that they will serve the people with selflessness and integrity.

Joshua Dobbins, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

Unbeilievable achievement. Brilliant

Antoine martin, Warsaw, Poland

Race is incidental. Americans finally chose someone with the intellect for the position.
If genetic anthropologists tracing our heritage through our D.N.A. have proved the migration of all humans from African beginnings then we are all African. The biblical model makes us Semitic.
Your choice.

Lizbeth, Orillia,

But he isn't black, he has a white mother and a black father- he is half black and also half white- he represents all peoples.
He is a fantastic example to us all.

andrew, London, UK

President Elect Obama has a daunting task to heal the scars left from the last Administration. It is with hope that we look to the coming years for peace and renewed relationships with our friends across the globe

Eric Vaselaar, Adrian, United States

"in the words of an African/American I saw on a tv talk show,"

Must be true then.

John, London,

Neil, Birmingham, I believe you are missing the point, to all intents and purposes black isn't a race it's a cultural identity affirmed by race. As Obama wrote in his book he identifies himself as black.

John Dough, London,

This moment is deeply important for all so-called ethnic minorities. I never saw any mixed-race individuals or families in the public eye when I was growing up. My parents endured abuse for being a mixed-race couple. The content of our character wasn't important. But Obama's win heralds progress.

Louise Nelson, London , UK

The reference to Obama being black is a cast over from the by-gone days when anyone who was not white was black. This terminology is archaic and should be stopped if racial differences are to be cast aside and we are to more forward.

Congratulations to Obama the first mixed race president!

Neil, Birmingham,

I hate to burst the bubble but in the words of an African/American I saw on a tv talk show, once White/Black produce a child it becomes mixed race and then stays genetically Black , continuing to 'throw-back' forever and this has occurred many times.

Prudence Eely Bond McGuire BA, LONDON, ENGLAND- UK

all this garbage about whether he is black or mixed is really pedantic. if i passed him on the street i'd say he was black but i don't particularly care either way. the issue is surely whether he can do the job...o and congrats to the US - how very progressive ;-)

Anthony, Trieste, Italy

Turmoil does not always translate into a desire for change, people could have just as easily gone for experience.

The fact is that weath redistribution and alternative energy were at the forefront of his campaign and he got elected, that is a sesmic shift in politics in the US.

Gerard, London,

What's the big deal?

A mixed race male, brought up by a white mother, and white grandparents, goes to Harvard and becomes President.

Not so different from any other President.

Tom Franklin, London, UK

The world is really proud now as some changes have hapenned in america, hope obama will also concentrate on worl peace and economic upliftment more than wars

Arjun, Bangalore, India

It doesn´t matter the color of his skin. We feel optimistic and excited about the changes to come and this hasn´t happened in a long time.

Greg Backes, Madrid, Spain

Go Obama!! First black president, awesome I wish him all the luck in the world as he has inherited quite a mess. He will have such a huge impact on the global scene and he is picking smart people to surround himself with so smart move number one in place.

matzi, reading, UK

I am relieved, not only for USA but for the world that Obama has been elected and all of us can only hope that he is as good as his word.

Sue, Xiaosha , China

The world does not have its first black President, it has its first bi-racial President. I do believe he is both black and white.

Gina, Dallas, USA

Obama has made History and because of this many will be looking for weakness to exploit - there is still much suspicion and prejudice out there, especially in Southern States!

His honeymoon period won't last long and everything from the Economy to Terrorist groups will test his resolve now!

Sam Redman, London, UK

I would just like to point out that he is not black! He is half white, half black. Is someone like Mugabe a black black president then? I find this very confusing and incorrect.

Siân, Frankfurt, Germany

Well, he did it but now the real test begins - it is one thing to promise change and another to deliver it. Remember the hope the electorate pinned on Blair's win in 1997? Now the country realises just how little has changed -for the better, that is. I hope Obama is more successful.

Colin Cumner, Adelaide, South Australia

Read THE MAN by Irving Wallace [1964] - fictional account of the first black President of the USA !!!!

Not so fiction based now because the world has its first black President of the USA !!!!!!

IAN PAYNE, Walsall,