Dreams from My Father

Chapter 4

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?

Throughout his teenage years, Obama has a good friend named Ray. How is Ray both similar to and different from Obama? Why is Ray an important character in this chapter?

Obama begins to play basketball in this chapter. What is the significance of Obama’s involvement with basketball?

Obama also meets an older man, Frank, who is a friend of Gramps. What do you learn about Frank early in the chapter? What is his background and what are his interests? Please describe the friendship between Gramps and Frank. What does Obama learn about his grandfather by talking with Frank? Why is Frank important to Obama?

Covering Obama’s life from the time he was ten until he was about 18 or 19, this chapter provides a great deal of information about Obama’s development and identity formation. His relationship to his mother and grandparents and his understanding of them evolves in significant ways. How would you describe these changes? What do you think is most important in his maturation process?

Cultural and Historical References
	Soul Train – p. 78 A television variety show that started in 1971 and continued through 2007, Soul Train featured performances by African-American musicians and dancers.
	Shaft and Superfly - p. 78 Both movies focused on the black American experience. Shaft (1971) is about a black detective; Superfly (1972) is about drug dealers in the early 1970s.
	Richard Pryor - p. 78 A black comedian who worked in clubs, on television and in the movies, Richard Pryor (1940 -2005) created astute and very funny impersonations and routines that have had an enormous influence on American comedians.
	Richard Wright - p. 78 Probably most well-known for Native Son and Black Boy, Richard Wright (1908-1960) also wrote other novels, plays, short stories and essays.
	Langston Hughes - p. 85 A poet, playwright, novelist and essayist, Langston Hughes (1902-1967) was one of the central figures of the Harlem Renaissance.


	James Baldwin - p. 85 Through his novels, plays, speeches, and essay, James Baldwin (1924-1987) helps us to understand the political, social, and racial issues of 20th century America.
	Ralph Ellison - p. 85 A writer, sculptor, musician and photographer, Ralph Ellison (1914-1980) published his most well-known novel, Invisible Man in 1952.
	W.E.B. DuBois - p. 85 Born just after the Civil War, W.E.B. DuBois (1868-1963)was a prominent civil rights activist throughout his life. His most well known book of essays is Souls of Black Folks.
	Malcolm X - p. 85 A prominent and controversial leader in the African-American struggle for civil rights in the 1950s and early 1960s, Malcolm X (1925–1965) published his autobiography in 1965, shortly before he was assassinated.