Obama inspires Afro-Brazilians

It is likely that no group of people anywhere in South America are watching the rise of Barack Obama as the first black US president as passionately as in Salvador, Brazil.

Salvador, on the northeast coast of the country, is Brazil's third largest city with about 2.8 million inhabitants, over 80 per cent of whom are defining themselves as black of mixed race.

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Most people here say Obama's victory will affect the children of the city in a number of ways, but not just because he is black.

"Obama is not president because he is black, he is president because of the power of his proposals," said Cesar Souza, who teaches African dance at a school for poor black children.

"And that is an example to every black kid from poor areas in the world that he or she can grow up and go to school, a university, and have goals. These kids will watch television and see Obama and be curious now. So Obama will be a positive reference for people in Brazil – especially black children."

More at:
http://english.aljazeera.net/news/americas/2008/11/200811619119961388.html