In black America, President Barack Obama is, and will remain, Soul Brother No. 1, despite a sharp decline in African-American wealth, disproportionately high levels of black unemployment and vocal critics who charge that he has taken black voters for granted.
Why? In general, Obama articulates a political vision that most blacks find appealing. His broad rhetorical strokes evince empathy for the disadvantaged and pay homage to the collective struggles that have made his accomplishments possible. For some, his rhetoric is annoyingly vague and insufficiently progressive. But few worry that he will pull a Clarence Thomas.
Obama generally refrains from accentuating the...