Barack Obama

Barack Obama

A Big Job Did you ever think about being president of a country? Do you wonder why someone would want such a big job? Barack Obama was elected president of the United States in November 2008.

Growing Up Barack was born in 1961 in Hawaii. People called him Barry when he was young. His mother was a white woman from the United States. His father was a black man from an African country.

Barry's father moved away to Africa when Barry was very young. Later, his mother married a man from a country in Asia. Barry's family moved to that country. Many people there were very poor.

Barry moved back to Hawaii at age ten. He lived with his grandparents until he finished high school. Barry lived in many homes and many cultures. He did not know where he belonged in the world.

Finding His Way Barry left Hawaii in 1979. He moved away to go to another school. He started to use his African name, Barack. He started to see that he was African American and white. He did not have to choose between the two.