His tendency to view Africa through an American lens is thus both understandable and inevitable. Yet his African roots give him a unique capacity to transform American relations with Africa, elevating the importance of African self-reliance and achievement, while striving to make American aid more intelligent and effective.
学识渊博、深思熟虑的奥巴马知道美国黑人将用完全不同于白人的眼光看待他对加纳的出访。因此他透过美国有色眼镜看待非洲可以理解，也顺理成章。但他的非洲根基让他拥有了改变美非关系的独特能力，强调非洲自力更生和自我实现的重要，并同时竭尽全力让美国的援助更加明智有效。