Barack Obama is bright. He is charismatic. He is a great orator. He has a beautiful family. He is inspiring.

He is also a good teacher, especially when it comes to how to deal with the issue of race. I think he provides an excellent blueprint for African Americans who seek leadership positions and overall increase in their lives. He has shown that perhaps the best way to overcome the issue of racism is to refuse to become caged by it. It’s as if the President believes that acknowledging racism’s power and prevalence will thereby feed its existence, making it an even more powerful and prevalent monster.

And you know what? I think he’s right.

It is interesting how much energy we have put to Representative Joe Wilson’s outburst during the President’s speech to Congress. It  has been talked about quite a bit on the airwaves and in print. I’ve even addressed it on The Batts Report, my radio show on BlogTalkRadio. (Check us out at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/thebattsreport). But in doing so; in giving so much focus to this, we have diverted Wilson’s lack of decorum has been held up as a byproduct of the racism that exists in America and the heartburn some have about a black man being in the White House. This despite the fact that President Obama is actually half white. I guess that is insignificant to some of his venomous detractors who spew vitriol laced with racial overtones.

Yet, President Obama has refused to jump or be pulled into the fray, despite pleas from his supporters that he do so. Some have even accused him of being delusional and weak. I would argue to the contrary. I would say that it actually takes a great deal of awareness and foresight to see that this is a battle that he cannot win, though it is indeed worth fighting. Yet, when I think about it, he has defeated it. He has overcome it. Afterall, it was the white vote that pushed him over the top in the election. He has crossover appeal and is not defined by the amount of melanin in his skin. And he knows that there are other pressing issues to deal with such as the economy, our broken health care system and public education.

Why is it that black folks, to a very large degree, don’t put the same amount of energy into things they can change like these issues? Why is it that the issue of racism continues to get so much attention? Think for a minute…Have you ever cared deeply for someone, but knew those feelings were not reciprocal? Ever been dumped in a relationship? All of us have or will at some point, unfortunately. And we know that despite all the talking we might do, nothing can change  what the other person has in their heart.

We will never be able to change the hearts of those who dislike black people, even if they are only 50 percent black. So why waste the time? Put that energy elsewhere. Refuse to be overcome by race. Detour around it on the road to success. That’s what President Obama did. And I think we can learn a lot from the route he has taken.