Africans expect a lot from President Obama

Africans have no illusions about an Obama Presidency, writes Howard French, former New York Times West Africa correspondent and now journalism professor at Columbia University, on Huffingtonpost.com. But they do have high expectations of the first American President partly of African descent:

While much of the world has gone sour on the United States’ claim of being a beacon of hope, the 53 countries of Africa have by and large remained profoundly attached to a vision of America as land of justice, opportunity and freedom. Obama’s election will only make such feelings much more intense.

I think he is right.