Barack Obama

Barack Obama

Introduction Every child dreams about growing up. Some children know what they want to be as adults. Others have no idea. Some do not find a direction for their life until they are adults. This is the story of just such a child. Things happened in his life that made him feel as though he did not fit in. He was bothered by many things around him. Over time, those things helped him discover his path in life. He developed a strong desire to improve the world. That desire led him to become president of the United States of America.

Growing Up Barack Obama Jr. -called Barry during his childhood-was born in 1961 in Hawaii. His mother was from the state of Kansas. His father was from the country of Kenya, in Africa. His parents met and married while they were students at the University of Hawaii. The marriage did not last. By the time Barry was four, his father had moved back to Kenya.

Barry's mother married a man from Indonesia when Barry was six. The family moved from Hawaii to Indonesia. Barry sometimes felt strange being so far from Hawaii. He felt he was not part of the community where he now lived. His parents were of different races and from different continents. Barry wondered who he was and where he belonged in the world.

Barry's mother taught him about races and cultural groups. She told him about slavery and civil rights in the United States. Barry also learned about important African Americans who helped to improve the world. Barry's mother wanted him to be proud of his background. But Barry also learned that some people were ashamed of the color of their skin. And he learned about people who thought others were bad just because of their skin color or religion. Barry was confused. It was a lot for a young boy to think about.

Barry lived in Indonesia for four years. Then, his mother thought he could get a better education in the United States. So in 1971, when he was ten, she sent Barry back to Hawaii. He lived with his grandparents while he went to school. In Hawaii, Barry again felt like an outsider. He was one of only two African American students in his class. Some of his classmates made fun of his unusual name.