Barack Hussein "Barry" Obama, Sr. (1936–1982)

[megimoo]

Barack Obama, Sr.
Born 1936
Nyangoma-Kogelo, Kenya
Died 1982
Nairobi, Kenya
Burial place Nyangoma-Kogelo, Siaya District, Kenya[1]
Nationality Kenyan
Alma mater University of Hawaii
Harvard University
Occupation Economist
Known for Biological father of Barack Obama
Spouse Kezia
Ann Dunham
Ruth Nidesand
Unknown 4th partner
Children 1. (with Kezia) Abongo (Roy) Obama,
Auma Obama, Abo Obama, Bernard Obama
2. (with Ann Dunham) Barack Obama
3. (with Ruth Nidesand) Mark Obama,
David Obama[2]
Parents Hussein Onyango Obama and Auma Obama [1]

 Due to a program offering Western educational opportunities to outstanding Kenyan students that was organized by nationalist leader Tom Mboya, Obama Sr. was awarded a scholarship in economics, and at the age of 23 he enrolled at the University of Hawaii.

He left behind a pregnant Kezia and their infant son.Initial financial supporters of the program included Harry Belafonte, Sidney Poitier, Jackie Robinson, and Elizabeth Mooney Kirk, a literacy advocate who provided most of the financial support for Obama Sr.'s early years in the United States, according to the Tom Mboya archives at Stanford University.

Two years later, Obama Sr. was accepted at Harvard for graduate study. He moved to Massachusetts, unable to afford to take his wife and son with him. He and Dunham divorced in 1963, and he only saw his son again once, at age 10. He received the AM degree from Harvard in 1965.

At Harvard, he met an American-born teacher named Ruth Nidesand who would follow him to Kenya when he returned after completing a graduate degree. She eventually became his third wife. She and Obama Sr. had two children together before they divorced.

Obama the elder's conflict with President Kenyatta effectively destroyed his career. His life then took a tailspin into drinking and poverty, from which he never really recovered. His friend Kenyan journalist Philip Ochieng has described Obama's difficult personality and drinking problems in the Kenya newspaper The Nation. Obama Sr. lost both legs in an automobile accident, and subsequently lost his job. He died not long afterwards in poverty at the age of 46 in another car crash.

[Lord Undies]

In spirit, he sounds like Bill Clinton's real father.

[Wretched Excess]

for what it's worth, here is a link to Problems Facing Our Socialism (1965) pdf format, by Barak H. Obama, who's son is currently running for president.

it's sort of hard to read too much into this paper without having a proper sense of the historical context;  africa was a pretty huge mess at the time.

[phillygirl]

Sort of interesting.  The history is unclear, but was Obama's father still married when he met his mother?  I've always marveled at how Obama dedicated his book to this absentee father.

[Rebel]

Sort of interesting.  The history is unclear, but was Obama's father still married when he met his mother?  I've always marveled at how Obama dedicated his book to this absentee father.

Because his mom was a cracker. Can't be dedicating a book to the white devil when you have political aspirations as a black Democrat.

[phillygirl]

There was an excellent book review awhile back that really targeted that issue.  It actually made me want to read the book to see how well the critic nailed it.  Once it gets into the bargain bin I probably will.

[Wretched Excess]

Sort of interesting.  The history is unclear, but was Obama's father still married when he met his mother?  I've always marveled at how Obama dedicated his book to this absentee father.

another good question, along with your question this afternoon about how much the obamas borrowed to get their undergrad degrees and get through law school;  it's a perfectly valid question since The MichelleStar! has turned their student loans into a campaign issue.

[phillygirl]

Sort of interesting.  The history is unclear, but was Obama's father still married when he met his mother?  I've always marveled at how Obama dedicated his book to this absentee father.

another good question, along with your question this afternoon about how much the obamas borrowed to get their undergrad degrees and get through law school;  it's a perfectly valid question since The MichelleStar! has turned their student loans into a campaign issue.

Am I being graded?

[Wretched Excess]

Sort of interesting.  The history is unclear, but was Obama's father still married when he met his mother?  I've always marveled at how Obama dedicated his book to this absentee father.

another good question, along with your question this afternoon about how much the obamas borrowed to get their undergrad degrees and get through law school;  it's a perfectly valid question since The MichelleStar! has turned their student loans into a campaign issue.

Am I being graded?

no, complimented.  but it doesn't surprise me that you can't always tell the difference.