That's the thing, the country wanted change and change is what Obama promised. Race plays a part but in ways many don't account for and it doesn't play as much a role in other ways that many think it does. The same is true for gender. Some like to claim Hillary lost because of her gender, but they don't account for her messaging that the status quo is fine. The person who was promising change in that presidential race was her opponent, Trump, who ended up winning. This is not a mere coincidence.