Introspection and Reflection Questions
- Obama is constantly learning about his mother and father, and his relationship to them changes over time. Choose one of your parents and write about him or her. Describe how your relationship to him or her has evolved as you have matured. How does your experience compare with Obama’s?
- Obama ends this chapter, and the "Origins" section, by telling us about a dream that he had about his father. Think about a dream that you had and remembered, and try to write it down. Why was that dream important to you? What happened and what did you learn? In what ways are your feelings about your dream different from Obama’s?
Suggestions for Essays, Presentations, or Research Projects
- On pages 120-122, Obama describes how he tours New York, investigating different corners of the city and responding to what he sees and hears, and referring to the economic and social contrasts he experiences. Follow in his footsteps, and expand on his tour. Take some trips around the city, and take note of what you see, hear and experience. Keep notes, and when you are finished, prepare a digital story, a paper, or a presentation in which you describe what you have seen or learned.
- By the time you finish this chapter, you will have learned more about Obama’s mother and father and their relationship. Please make a list of everything you know about each of these characters. Then, in a paper or presentation, analyze the character you have chosen and write your opinion of him or her. Please support your analysis with details taken from the list that you have made. What do you like or dislike about the character and his or her actions? What choices did he or she make in his or her life with which you agree or disagree? Why?
- Obama was in New York from 1980-1983. You live here now. Has the city changed? Using the links below and on the Resources page, please write a paper, or prepare a presentation, in which you explain your answer to this question. You’ll need to do some research, but you should also rely on your own observations of life in New York. Start by comparing your observations with Obama’s, and then explain what happened in New York that has caused the city to change since 1983. Before you start, you might want to listen to the Stevie Wonder song, “Living for the City.” Obama references the lyrics when he writes, “New York. Just like I pictured it" (p. 113).
Cultural and Historical References
New York in the Early 1980s
http://library.laguardia.edu/ee/index.php?/research/database/subject/new_york_city/Stevie Wonder "Living for the City" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mSRyf5G2uI8 lyrics: http://www.lyricsfreak.com/s/stevie+wonder/living+for+the+city_20131815.html