Barack H. Obama (1961- )

Figure 1.--This photo was taken in 1972 at Punahou School. It shows the class attended by the President Obama at the age of 11. Senator Obama wrote a very early menoir. In it he decribes how he struggled to reconcile "social perceptions" of his multiracial heritage. He admitted using alcohol, marijuana and cocaine during his teenage years. Hawaii is a multiple race society, but blacks are a mall part of the racial make-up of the islands. Barak was only one of three black students at the school. He later wrote that it was here thast he first became conscious of racism and what it meant to be an African–American.

Middle Name

A reader writes, "I don't know why you call him Barack H. Obama. We all know that his middle name is Hussain, nobody uses that name, only people who are against him." About his middle name. The convention is dealing with presidents is to use the middle initials. Since the presidency of Franklin D. Roosevelt, using the middle initial has been a very common way of writing about our modern presidents. This is not always the case. President Reagan and President Clinton's middle initiasl were not commonly used. But it was very common with 20th century presidents. I did not want to use his full name because as you say, it is commonly used by people who want to criticise him. I did not, however, want to avoid the topic.

Parents

Barack's father, Barack Obama, Sr. was from Kenya. He was from the Luo tribe in Nyanza Province, Kenya. As a boy in Kenya herding goats for his father. His father was a domestic servant to a British family. Barak Sr. came from Muslim, but at an early point in his life rejected UIslam and became an atheist. Obama’s mother, Ann Dunham, was raised in Wichita, Kansas. Her father was an oil worker and thus was employed during the Depression. After the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and American entry in World war II, he volunteered for military service. He was involved in the European campsign, serving in Patton's 3rd Army. Her mother like many American women supported the War effort by getting a job in the defense industry. She was aind of Rody the Rivitor and worked on a bomber assembly line. After the war, his father benefited from the G.I. Bill, bought a house through the Federal Housing Program, and moved to Hawaii. Barack’s father won a scholarship that allowed him to leave Kenya and pursue his education in Hawaii at the East–West Center of the University of Hawaii at Manoa. It was here Barak Obama Jr.'s parents met. The two separated when young Barak was 2 years old and subsequently divorced. Barak Obama Sr. went to Harvard to pursue Ph. D. studies and then returned to Kenya. He essentially deserted the family and showed no subsequent interest in his boy or attempted to provide child support. Barak's mother married Lolo Soetoro, a East–West Center student from Indonesia. The Soetoro family moved to Jakarta (1967). Barak's half-sister Maya Soetoro–Ng was born there. A reader writes, "I find it remarkable that his mother's second husband, the Indonesian Lolo Soetoro, used the Dutch spelling of his last name. Many Indonesians did not change the u-sound in their name, even Sukarno always signed his name Soekarno. Suharto did the same: Soeharto." His mother was from Kansas. He was raised with help from his maternal grandparents. His grandfather was a world War II veteran. (He served in Patton's 3rd Army. His grandmother began as a secretary in bank. She managed to work her way into middle management.

Childhood

Barack was born in Hawaii (August 4, 1961). As a boy, Barak was commonly called Barry. His mother married an Indonesian and the family lived for a timne in Jasrkarta. After 4 years bought the family back to Hawaii (1971). They lived with his maternal grandparents, Madelyn and Stanley Dunham. His mother died of ovarian cancer (1995). He saw his father only once after he abandoned the family. They met in 1971 when Barak ws 10 years old. Barak senior was killed in aar accident (1982). Senator Obama wrote a very early menoir. In it he decribes how he struggled to reconcile "social perceptions" of his multiracial heritage. He admitted using alcohol, marijuana and cocaine during his teenage years. Hawaii is a multiple race society, but blacks are a mall part of the racial make-up of the islands. He was only one of three black students at the school. Obama was later to write that it was here thast he first became conscious of racism and what it meant to be an African–American.

Education

Barry first attended schools in Jakarta, where classes were taught in the Indonesian language. When his mother brought bhim back to Hawaii, he was enrolled in the 5th grade at the esteemed Punahou Academy. He was an excellent student and graduating with honors in 1979. After high school, Obama studied at Occidental College in Los Angeles for 2 years. He then transferred to Columbia University in New York, graduating with a degree in political science (1983). Barack worked his way through college with the help of scholarships and student loans. We do not know yet what kinds of jobs he had to pay his way through college.

Social Work

As a college graduaste. His first inclination was to pursue social work. He moved to Chicago. He worked with a group of churches to help rebuild urban communities feeling the impact of industrial closures, especially steel mills. local steel plants. This is well publicized an even mentioned on his White House page. Less commonly addressed was the results of his social work in improving the lives of the industrial workers facing the problems of a declining industrial economy.

Law School

After his social work in Chicago, Obama decided that he needed a law degree. He was accepted by one of the most prestigious law schools in the country--Haervard Law School. He became the president of the Haevard Law Review, a impressive achievement. He was the first African American to achieve this honor.

Back to Chicago

Obama after earning his law degree, he returned to Chicago. There he engaged in a variety if community orgnizing activities. He led a voter registration drive. He taught constitutional law at the University of Chicago. He became an active figure in his community.

Politics

Obama decided to enter politics. His White House web site states, "President Obama's years of public service are based around his unwavering belief in the ability to unite people around a politics of purpose." He won election to the Illinois State Senate. There he explains that his major achievements were to help pass the first major ethics reform in 25 years, cut taxes for working families, and expanded health care for children and their parents. He next won election to the United States Senate. There he sites his major achievements were to reach "across the aisle to pass groundbreaking lobbying reform, lock up the world's most dangerous weapons, and bring transparency to government by putting federal spending online."

Family

Barack and Michelle Obama the parents of two daughters, Malia and Sasha. At the time the Obamas entered the White House, they were 10 and 7 years old.

Presidential Election of 2008

Senator Obama was elected the 44th President of the United States.

Presidency