Introspection and Reflection
- On page 64, Obama describes his attempt to learn more about his father's country and tribe. Have you ever searched for information about your family's history in another country? How did you go about your research? What did you learn? How did your approach to learning more differ from what Obama did?
- At the end of Chapter Three, Obama’s father teaches him to dance. It is a beautiful moment between father and son, one which Obama remembers and describes well many years after it occurred. Please think about something that you learned how to do from a parent, a family member or an older friend. What happened? How is your moment alike or different from Obama’s?
Suggestions for Essays, Presentations, and Research Projects
- When Obama was ten years old (1971), his father came to visit the family. This was eight years after he had left Hawaii when Obama was two years old. It is a momentous visit, one which Obama will remember for a long time, and one which affects his understanding of his father, his mother, his grandparents, and himself. Several events occur. The reunited family members have fun together, but at some points, tensions arise. Please choose one or two events, and write an essay or prepare a presentation about them. What happened and why are these particular events important to understanding Obama and Dreams from My Father? Please explain what you have learned about Obama through examining these events and his reactions to them. Please conclude by discussing how your understanding of family relationships and dynamics has evolved as a result of reading this chapter carefully.
- In Chapter Three, we learn more about Toot and Gramps, their relationship, and how they have changed over the years. In an essay or presentation, discuss what you have learned about Gramps, Toot and Obama. Why are Gramps and Toot so important in Obama’s life and what has he learned from each of them?
Useful Links for Further Research
Hawaii
http://www.hawaiihistory.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=ig.page&CategoryID=259