The election of Barack Obama may have had what we'll call The Urkel Effect. Takeaway Contributor and Senior Editor at Essence Magazine, Patrik Henry Bass says the rise of the bookish President may clear a path for people once maligned as nerds and bookworms. And he says that may have a particularly strong impact in the black community, especially in conjunction with the rise of authors such as Colson Whitehead and Trey Ellis.

Which books were on Patrik's list?

• Paul Beatty, The White Boy Shuffle
• John Ridley, What Fire Cannot Burn
• Trey Ellis, Platitudes
• Mat Johnson, Drop
• Victor LaValle, Big Machine
• David Anthony Durham, The Other Lands
• Colson Whitehead, Sag Harbor

Barack Obama may be President, but will he get his own breakfast cereal like Urkel?