Dreams From My Father, written by our former president Barack Obama, is a memoir that emphases on race and racism. Obama is constantly searching for a sense of belonging between what worlds he belongs to –white or black. He states “The emotions between the races could never be pure; even love was tarnished by the desire to find in the other some element that was missing in ourselves. Whether we sought out our demons or salvation, the other race would always remain just that: menacing, alien, and apart.” Luckily, he is able to easily adapt to both. He reflects on family, friends and his environments to see how it helps shape who he is.
At the age of 21, Barack got a call from a family member in Kenya, informing him that his father had passed away in a car accident. His father has been abstinent from his life since he was two years old, consequently he did not know much about him, just basic information. "At the time of his death, my father …show more content…
Having that he spent many years away from them, they almost became strangers to him. Obama was now in fifth grade, attending Punahou School, a private, college-prep school. He was one of six black students at the school, and attended the school until he graduated high school. During his time at Punahou School, he meets Ray, who also happens to be biracial. Ray introduces Obama to the African-American community. (82) During this time Obama earned for a sense of belonging. He was confused as to what race he felt more comfortable with. “I learned to slip back and forth between my black and white worlds, understanding that each possessed its own language and customs and structures of meaning, convinced that with a bit of translation on my part the two worlds would eventually cohere.” Depending on the situation, he had to learn to
At the age of 21, Barack got a call from a family member in Kenya, informing him that his father had passed away in a car accident. His father has been abstinent from his life since he was two years old, consequently he did not know much about him, just basic information. "At the time of his death, my father …show more content…
Having that he spent many years away from them, they almost became strangers to him. Obama was now in fifth grade, attending Punahou School, a private, college-prep school. He was one of six black students at the school, and attended the school until he graduated high school. During his time at Punahou School, he meets Ray, who also happens to be biracial. Ray introduces Obama to the African-American community. (82) During this time Obama earned for a sense of belonging. He was confused as to what race he felt more comfortable with. “I learned to slip back and forth between my black and white worlds, understanding that each possessed its own language and customs and structures of meaning, convinced that with a bit of translation on my part the two worlds would eventually cohere.” Depending on the situation, he had to learn to