Obama's Book is a Good Read

I got Obama's books from our local library about a week ago.  At the time it felt a little like a school assignment. I picked them up mostly because I thought I should read them, not so much because I thought I would enjoy them.

I started reading Dreams of My Father and am pleasantly surprised. I thought the book would be bland, but I am really enjoying it. I am not even half way through so I can't comment on the second half of the book, but so far, it is a very interesting personal memoir. It is surprising to me (maybe I am naive) how much of Obama's time and thoughts were focused on race issues as a young man.  I thought he would be less sensitive because he was raised by his white mother and grandparents.  Obama's memories of his struggles with race are multi-layered, complex and honest. The book was published in 1995 (when he was young thirties). I hope he doesn't lose his sincerity in his current political role.

I find the book enlightening and a little disconcerting because 1- I have a hispanic daughter who is growing up in a white family and I don't want her to feel confused about where she belongs like Barack did as a adolescent  2- and I say this with the upmost respect and acknowledgement that we are still affected in some ways by racism, but sometimes it makes me weary to think we still haven't gotten past it. We have so many other things to fix. It would be so great to be done with it. Maybe having an African American family in the white house will help.

Anyway, a good read, no matter which way you vote.

Comments

[Stefanie]

I would think that growing up half African American in a Caucasian family would probably make it more difficult, at least back then, because of the large number of people who would have been unaccepting of that sort of family dynamic.

I, too, am tired of race issues. Sexism and sexual orientation issues are right up there, too. I don't understand why, even today, people are still hesitant to accept others just because they look different or love different.

[Summer]

I haven't had the chance to read his books yet, they are constantly out at our library. Hopefully that's a good sign.

[Jordan McClements]

I hope this is not too off topic, but...

I have over 1000 photos that I would like bloggers to use free of charge (including a lot of nature type photos).

See http://money-from-photos.blogspot.com/2008/08/free-photos-for-your-blog-or-web-site.html

I hope this is of some use to you at some point, and that the instructions are clear enough to follow.

Thanks!

[Felix Noir]

Barack Obama's novels are a good read. If by any chance he loses the election, then he should read the novels out loud as a closing speech to cause people to realize what they've overlooked.

[Steve]

"I find the book enlightening and a little disconcerting because 1- I have a hispanic daughter who is growing up in a white family and I don't want her to feel confused about where she belongs like Barack did as a adolescent"

Huh? Refer to the header. If it takes a planet to raise a child, how could this be a problem? Doesn't that planet include white people? And if that is a problem, wouldn't it rule out the site slogan? Or are these white people from another planet?

I mean no disrespect here, but this is what bothers me about Obama's popularity. He is a contradiction of most of his supporters, yet for some reason they support him. What is really scary is when the supporters preach both his message and their contradictory one, and don't even realize they are doing so.

Food for thought.