Why is Obama distinguished by his race?

Dear Editor,

Perhaps Pastor Daniel Singh can tell us why Barack Obama is ‘African American’ and not just ‘American’ (‘In the country of his birth Obama is African-American,’ SN July 1). The pastor says, “So what is the big deal if Mr Obama is being portrayed by his dominant ethnicity?”

In the USA there are also Asian Americans and Native Americans and so on. The only thing missing in America is ‘Caucasian American’ or if you prefer it, ‘European American.’ Some people living there are just labelled ‘Americans,’ nothing more nothing less.

So Pastor Singh, tell us why it is so important to distinguish or single out a man by his race?

Yours faithfully,
Justin de Freitas