Article updated: 1/21/2013 5:11 AM

Suburban leaders reflect on race relations as Obama begins second term

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U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts administers the oath of office as U.S. President Barack Obama is sworn in for a second term in the Blue Room of the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Sunday, Jan. 20, 2013. As he enters his second term Obama has shed the aura of a hopeful consensus builder determined to break partisan gridlock and adopted a more confrontational stance with Republicans.

Associated Press

Toni Carter

Robert Renteria Jr.

Christopher Anne Easley

David Sam

Ken Ender

William McLeod

Kevin Williams

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Stephen Maynard Caliendo

John Brennan

Valerie Profit

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As the nation watches President Barack Obama sworn in as the commander-in-chief on Martin Luther King day, suburbanites are reflecting on what it means to have an African-American man as the leader of the United States, and how race relations have, or have not, changed during his time in office. Harper College President Ken Ender said he was encouraged when he recently made a visit to Stuart R. Paddock School in Palatine to read the book “Obama's Letter to His Daughters” to a group of fourth-graders.