Peter's point is indeed very insightful.

I think this means that our society is more advanced in overcoming sexism than racism; after all, only a truly exceptional African-American politician has been able to succeed on a national level. So far, anyway. Barack Obama managed to get himself elected President only by being head-and-shoulders superior to any and all his opponents. (Lucky for us, by the way ~ us Americans and us world citizens alike.)

On the local level, of course, there are some pretty mediocre elected officials who are black.

Chris Rock has a pretty funny routine about how truly exceptional (and lucky) a black person needs to be for success on a high level (not just in politics, but in society in general).

He points out that he lives in a very pricy community in Alpine, New Jersey, just across the Hudson from upper Manhattan. The only other black folks in the neighborhood are big-time show-biz and sports celebrities like himself. (He named a few names, but I'm not sure I remember them correctly.)

On the other hand, his many white neighbors are well-off, upper-middle-class folks, but not necessarily world famous off-the-charts achievers. For example, the guy next door to him is a dentist.

"Do you think that any black dentist could afford a house in my neighborhood? Only if he had invented teeth!"