Introspection and Research Questions
Discussion Questions
- What did you learn about Obama from reading this chapter? What was of most interest to you? What do you need more information about? What, if anything, was confusing to you?
- Acccording to Obama’s family members his grandfather, Hussein Onyango, was a very smart but strict man who had high expectations of his children, holding them to rigorous standards. On page 81, Auma says “I swear, sometimes I think that the problems in this family all started with him. He is the only person whose opinion I think the Old Man really worried about. The only person he feared.” The “Old Man” is Obama’s father. Please consider what you’ve learned about Obama’s father at this point. Do you think he was afraid of his own father? Why or why not? What evidence do you have to support your conclusion?
- On page 379, Bernard asks Obama why he had “finally come home.” Obama responds saying, “I’m not sure, Bernard. Something told me it was time.” Do you know more than Obama? Why do you think he finally went to Kenya to meet his father’s family when he was 28 years old? Why didn’t he go before?
- Obama’s uncle Sayid has several ideas about life in Kenya. What does Sayid explain to Obama about the Kenyan economy and its effect on how people live?
- In pages 382-391, Obama goes to visit Kendu Bay, the original home of the Obamas. What happens there, and what does Obama learn about his family as a result of this trip?
| Cultural and Historical References | |
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Obama family homesteads (Alego and Kendo Bay) See Map |
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Achebe |