I've been watching a DVD of Spike Lee's "When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts" while watching to the Democratic Convention. Nothing quite summarizes the challenges America faces after 8 years of George W. Bush's administration. We can do better in America.

Barack Obama clinched the Democratic Party nomination on Wednesday after Sen. Hillary Clinton freed her delegates to cast their votes for Obama. It was a fitting exit from a pretentious Democratic primary. This also ended a week of drama that had both candidates names entered into nomination, despite Obama's clear victory. Many of Clinton's delegates were still angry when the roll call began.

The other delegates were cheering as Nancy Pelosi moved through the motions of nominating Obama by counting the "Yes" and "No" votes. Then it was over and Obama was nominated, a historical moment.

It occurred to me in the midst of the excitement, that many in the media have felt a need to categorize Obama. Like Tiger Woods, Obama is a mixed heritage. Technically, he is not black or white. But the nation's overwhelming focus on race has diluted the reality of this candidacy and it's goals.

I was reminded in Lee's DVD that the media described Katrina victims as 'Refugees'. This was a huge oversight by the media and virtually every television network described American residents driven out of their homes as refugees. According to Dictionary.com, a refugee is defined, "a person who flees for refuge or safety, esp. to a foreign country, as in time of political upheaval, war, etc." This was a word coined out of ignorance and devalued view of black people.

Obama, like Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick, are breaking the mold and defeating long-standing stereotypes. On Thursday Patrick said, "This is emblematic of the dream that Dr. King was talking about." He goes on to talk about how all Americans want equal opportunities to succeed in society. Appearing on MSNBC, Patrick was well spoken dressed appropriately, but on the air with Norah O'Donnell far too short.

This image of Duvall infuriates some Republicans. Their failure to diversify the GOP has been based on this inability to make qualified African-Americans leaders in their own right within the party. Absent of supporting truly genuine African-American leaders, how can the GOP hope to capture any black votes. Sadly, the White House blamed Katrina for it's failed minority outreach. What a shame.

Now, back to the convention! Obama will take the stage for 50 minutes in front of 80,000 people at an open forum at INVESCO Field at Mile High Stadium.