Surprisingly enough I didn't love this book. I still love Mr. Obama. But the book wasn't as good as I was hoping for. The beginning really sucked me in. I read the first 100 pages in less than a day. It was so fascinating to learn about his life in Hawaii and Indonesia. I can't even imagine what it would be like to grow up black when everyone who is raising you is white. I found one particular story about his grandmother being afraid of a black homeless man very interesting. His grandfather was upset because he assumed she wouldn't have been afraid if the man was white. Which I find true for a lot of people. So even with a black grandson living in her house, she was a little bit racist. As for his grandfather. I think he went out of his way to be tolerant, and it sounds like it might have made for some uncomfortable situations. Which makes me wonder if my presence as an assistant coach for basketball ever causes these awkwardnesses.It was the middle that really dragged on. I liked his experience in Chicago and found it very interesting. Similiar neighborhoods to what I teach in. Similiar attitudes, similiar dissapointments. But it was just a little too much for me.
Then he goes to Kenya, and I was once again fascinated. His family just embraces him with all their hearts. And though he had only met his older half brother and sister he seems to just fit right in. But he does mention the disappointment that must come to all Black Americans when they return to Africa. Because of colonialism much of Africa mimics the western world, and in there lies the disappointment. He tells this amazing story about his grandfather and how he conformed to the ways of the white man when they first entered his village. It reminded me of Achebe's Things Fall Apart. His grandmother tells him about the wars that were fought with the white men. How at first no one thought they would stay. They thought they'd leave like the Arabs did. But soon white men were forcing taxes on the people, and forcing the people to use the white man's money instead of their own goods for trade. They'd burn down the huts of anyone who refused to pay. It's just so sad.
While in Kenya he goes on a safari with his sister Aumua. She was reluctant at first, saying the conservations are a sign of colonialism, a sign that the white man cares more about a dead elephant than 100 black people. I found that statement really interesting. But still, his description of the animals of the grasslands made me want to go one my own African safari. Someday.
And even though it wasn't a five star book, I still hope that someday this great man is the leader of our country. I want it for his sincerity, his charism, his race, and our people. We need a man like this. We need Mr. Obama.
1 comment:
Okay, it takes me a million years to get on the ball and respond to your book! And, I really should be doing any number of things but I am in the mood to be blogging, so here I am. :) Interesting, because I had an almost diametrically opposite opinion as you to his book! I loved it! I thought it brought out his humanness with real experiences that relate to almost every facet of person in our country. I think that human feeling, told through his stories of being part of a family - though broken; being a member of American, Indonesian, and African culture; fighting for a racial problem in Chicago, that also extended to a problem of poverty; living and working with middle and upper class people in the Legislature; going to church with devout and faithful people - whether they can be classified as the same types of Christians we are or not - they are faithful to their beliefs, which I admire. His book was so interesting to me and I read it in a few days and wrote a million things in the margins! It really opened me up to the idea that, though inexperienced when it comes to Washington politics, he is so experienced when it comes to world relations. I think he knows - and has - fought for meaningful change in the lives of real people. We need that type of leadership in our country to fight for the problems that so many people face (particularly those you and I feel a special attachment to - children caught in cyclical poverty). The problem with the trend in our country is we are a get-it-fast-and-now type of people. We don't want to wait for change to happen and I forsee that, if he does get elected, he will not have the time to make progress in a way that we can see in just four years, but because of that he won't get re-elected and have the opportunity to fight for real change in those continuted four years! Anyway, I could go on and on but I won't. :) I also bought a book about his policy history but haven't had a chance to read it yet. Go Obama! :)
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