Alicia Spence director of services at the African Caribbean Community Initiative in Wolverhampton
There is the feeling that the agenda is already set, but what he brings is a sense of hope and  for young black people it shows we can win against the odds.

With Obama's election and inauguration we are seeing BFIT -  the ‘Black Family In Tact'' and that is a powerful image.  

What is happening is good for black people's mental health and that's powerful,  we know Michelle is the strength not behind him but beside him and he wouldn't be able to have achieve the presidency without her and that is the kind of positive image of black women that to date has been sorely lacking. 
We don't come from a culture where a stranger will looks after your children; their choice for Michelle's mother to look after the girls is a reflection of their core values.

Lord  Herman Ouseley,  the first black head of the Commission for Racial Equality

This presidency gives us an uplifting in our spirit and is proof that we can get into powerful positions eventually. Here is someone with a huge intellect and a capacity to lead that gives us all inspiration. Others can undoubted gain from what he has achieved .

 Obama's election campaign and victory show very publicly that black people can succeed   and this is an inspiration.
 

Baroness Lola Young of Hornsey OBE
This is such an amazing feat and such a joyous occasion and will hopefully mark the end to the derision of educated black people.

 Obama's achievement shows us that his that intellect, ability as well as talent as a great leader are part of what secured him the presidency.

 I would like people who claim him weather black or white to understand that apart from his politics he is an educated and highly intellectual man who is not ashamed of being clever or having a clever bright wife. There are lessons to be learnt from that.

Dr Dele Olajide, Consultant Psychiatrist, Maudsley Hospital, London.

Obama is a man of our times. Everyman can identify with some aspect of Obama the man and his politics. He has shown that it is possible for a politician to transcend nationhood, gender, race and prejudice.

He is a canvass upon which everyman can project their aspirations and through his achievement; he has shown that we can  all scale extraordinary heights if we stay focused on our goals despite obstacles.

Everyman can identify with his universal vision of where America and the world should be heading in the 21st century with all the challenges facing the human race. The whole world is rooting for him to succeed, therefore, he can not fail!
Visit Dr Dele's blog on the Obama's election .

Matilda MacAttram, director of Black Mental Health UK
Obama's presidency signifies the dawn of a new era.   Entering the white house with an African American wife and children sends a powerful and positive message about the black family.   From the outset Obama has dispelled, myths and shattered stereotypes, which has done  the black community the world of good.  

The overwhelming support in the US and and the euphoria that his election has created across the globe is a reflection of what he stands for. His intelligence, integrity, character and compassion for the American people has secured him the backing of 80% of the American people. He is an exemplary example of the leadership we need at this time.  

Rev. Pedro Okro chair of the executive board African Caribbean Evangelical AllianceThis inauguration shows that in reality people should not be judge by the colour of their skin but by the strength of their character - and he has shown that if we have the faith as small as a mustard seed we can move mountains.

I believe that when God created the world, the word impossible did not exist, but people who for some reason did not fulfil their dreams or desires invented the word impossible. Impossible is a lie, it is not a fact, it is not true because if we set our minds to anything and work hard at it and pray to God for grace we can achieve it. That is what is so good about this inauguration.
It is amazing to think that the father of the president of the United States of America is from a village in Kenya. It is the stuff of fairy tales and that should encourage people, wherever they are in the world.  They should be encouraged, because they are unique and important and have a special place in God's plan.

Paul Reid director of the Black Cultural Archives
Obama's appointment was almost unimaginable at one point and through an amazing turn of events we have a black man as president and not just a black man, his wife and children are part of the package, which sends out a an amazing message to not only to black people but the world.
This will inspire people and especially young black people - it is a great achievement  

Bevan Powell deputy chair of the Metropolitan  Black Police Association.
This is a world history event and a major way forward for the United States in terms of where they have come from.

At the time when the American constitution was being drawn up a black man was not considered to two thirds of a man. To go from that to have an entire country led by an African American makes this a fantastic period in global history and this event  will have repercussion  world-wide.  

This is an inspiration for us in the UK and shows  that if you apply yourself, although obstacles may be put in the way it is still possible to achieve your dreams.  I congratulations to President Obama  for opening this new chapter of world history.

Dr Lez Henry, director of Nubyond Ltd 

For the first time in history the most powerful family on the planet is a black family and the fact that it is a big deal, because there is still so much racism in the US and rest of the world. It  will make a change to see an intelligent articulate, sophisticated  black man and if they let his wife speak a black woman on the TV.

I did not think I would witness it in my life time,   and  I have noticed that our young people have got an extra glide in their stride. A lot of black youth who don't know understand  the politics are thinking - wow a black man is a president ,  they see it as a symbol of hope, which is  something that they have never had before.

 Our old people used to tell us we never know what is around the corner and this is one of those situation - we never expected this. 

Pastor Desmond Hall, chair of Christians Together in Brent
o witness what was unthinkable and certainly what no one dared to uttered but has now happened, makes this a great time to be alive. To have a black man as the president  of the United States is a  miracle from God and we in the churches are celebrating it.  This will go a long way to lift the stigma and the negative stereotypes about black people. It marks the re-making of history and shows that black people are capable, articulate, ingenious and talented and able to achieve great success in the face of incredible odds.

There's a saying that when America sneezes, the world catches a cold, the sooner the effect of this phenomena are felt on this side of the Atlantic the better.

Peter Herbert - Chair of Society of Black Lawyers
That at last America has a black president is a  momentous occasion for people of colour all over the world. 

The real danger is that the expectations are so high and the hope so great that there is bound to be disappointment in the reality of what can be achieved. 


The issues of economic depression, economic recession and global recession and the need to find urgent solutions to Cuba, Afghanistan, Iraq, Zimbabwe and Somalia, all demand huge amounts of input from the US administration.  Even if Obama is successful on only some of these he will have made a huge contribution to peace.

Melvyn Davis,   Director of boyztoMEN,  The Male Development Service
Like most people I never thought that I would see this in my life time. His achievements sends a real message of hope and unity to the entire world.  Whatever else he goes on to achieve, to me, has already made his mark in history and as a result we will all be affected in some way.  The one thing that excites me the most though, is that my  three -year- old daughter, will grow up in a world never knowing a time when there was not a black president in the White House. That is the real potency of this event. 

Tony Warner  director of education 100 Black Men of London
It's  very impressive that he has won the election but he is standing on the shoulders of those who have gone before . Shirley Chisholm  ran for president in 1972 against Richard Nixon just four years after Martin Luther King was assassinated.

What she learnt she passed on to Jessis Jackson, who Al Shapton and I don't understand why this has not been mentioned. What Obama has acivheved is very impressive and he stands on the shoulders of those who went before him. 

Shirley McGreal - publisher of Black UK online, Keep The Faith and the Black Christian Directory - Black UK publications 

It's history in the making, just 100 years when my grandmother was alive there was slavery in America and now the polls indicated that 80% of American's support him.
Black American's have had it hard and still fight for equal treatment, they still different  mortgage rates for black but this presidency will mean that African American's will be more respected  and his achievement  will inspire our young people.  I'm just concerned that the world is putting too much on Obama's there is now an expection that he will change the world.

 Marcel Obourne community activist and mental health worker
One the one hand it's powerfully  symbolic in terms of what can be achieved, but at the end of the day the presidency is a cog in a machine.  I am not expecting the world to be dramatically different as a consequence of this new presidency.   It is inspirational but doesn't change American's primary interests. I feel that this is of huge significance but I am cautious as to what it really means.