Black women who plan to vote Democratic in the upcoming presidential primary COULD find themselves faced with a dilemma. Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton? Man or Woman? Black or White? Either choice has history making potential. Of course this is only a dilemma if you generally agree with both of them on most issues.

But if race and/or gender factors into your decision-making, consider this.

Barack Obama is the first Black candidate to have a real shot at winning the nomination. He’s smart, passionate, politically experienced on the state and federal level, a “people person” who comes from humble beginnings. And let’s be honest, he’s good-looking! His colleagues, both friend and foe consider him someone who can bring “both sides” together.

Hillary Clinton is the first woman to have a real shot at the nomination. She’s tough as nails (even though her softer side has come through recently), she has experience on Capital Hill and in the White House, she’s spent her adult-life in politics and she can count a former, 2-term president as her “better half.” Not to mention, maybe it’s time this country had a woman at the helm to tone down the testosterone dominating the world political scene right now.

It's a tough choice! Black women are asking themselves, "Should I be loyal to my race or my gender?" I’m willing to bet many of them won't know which way they’re going to vote until they walk into the booth. Either way it looks like history is about to be made. The first (fill in the blank) Democratic candidate for president will happen in 2008!