Race was always a pivotal issue in American elections.  It's just pivotal at later and later stages of the process.  First, black people (and women) didn't have the right to vote.  Then black people (and women) had the right to vote but were prevented or discouraged from exercising it.  Then black people (and women) couldn't win political elections at any level.  

Now, black people (and women) can win political elections at high levels, and they are proving that they are no better at anything than white men.  They're not smarter.  They're not more courageous.  They're not less corrupt, either from malice or cowardice.  This shouldn't be a surprise to anyone; people are people everywhere.  It also doesn't mean that the fight for human rights is futile or wrong.   

Eventually, maybe some really good people will be elected somewhere.