Trip to Kenya

Barack Obama travels to Kenya before law school in an attempt to discover more about his heritage and his family. He uses this opportunity to search for healing in the knowledge of his father. Sisters, brothers, and particularly Barack's grandmother, give him insight into the man that his father really was. Obama's paternal family is close, loving, and very welcoming, although the actions of his father has plagued the family with problems and bitterness. Overall, Barack Obama's trip to Kenya gave him insight into who he is, although it raised many other questions that may never be answered.

Being Mixed Race

Obama discusses being mixed race as an inescapable trap. Ray teaches Obama that black people have to be tough in order to not get ran over, and that growing up in Hawaii had not properly prepared him to be black. Obama had learned to discern when to be black and when to be white, with no coherence of his two races. When he meets Joyce, he finds that the problem with her, and other black people like her, is that they lose part of being black by attempting to get “lost in the crowd.” They would still always be treated differently, no matter how expensive their clothing or perfect their English.

Blog #2

Earlier today, President Obama told a White House news conference of fears that voters may blame him for the poor economy. Although the economy has been showing improvement, it has been a long, slow process. And, because the Democrats currently have control of the legislature, he understands that voters may find him at fault for the poor economy and rising unemployment rates. Obama seemed very defensive during the conference, but remained firm in his belief that his plans for the economy are working. He called for more support from the voters, and more cooperation from the Republicans, who have made the process very difficult by rejecting many of the proposals put forth by the Democrats. Obama contends that the "dreadful economy has made it hard to demonstrate real progress."


Works Cited
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100910/ap_on_bi_ge/us_obama

Building the ‘More Perfect Union’ in America

More than 200 years after the writing of the Constitution, America is still struggling to create a “more perfect union.” Racism has continued to keep our country divided and has stopped America from being able to reach some shared goals, i.e. better health care, jobs, and schools for all people. Our bruised history, from slavery to segregation, has made it hard for people among different races to unite and focus on achieving our common objectives. According to President Barack Obama, it is everyone’s responsibility to move on from the past. But what can we, as African-Americans, do to improve race relations in the United States? It starts with breaking free from the bondage of the past, and not letting it control our futures. While we do not have the power to change what has happened, we do have the ability to take responsibility for ourselves. African-Americans can start now, demanding more from ourselves and the people in our communities. Even when faced with discrimination and prejudice, we control how we react, and how we teach our children to react also. We must reach out to the people of races, and strive for unity in America. We have the power to narrow the gap between the races, and it is ultimately our responsibility to do so, for ourselves, and for future generations.

Obama, Barack. “A More Perfect Union.” National Constitution Center, Philadelphia.  18 March 2008. Speech.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWe7wTVbLUU