Barack Hussein Obama II

Official Portrait of Barack ObamaPete Souza, The Obama-Biden Transition Project [CC BY 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en)]As the first African American president of the prestigious Harvard Law Review, Barack Hussein Obama II constructed the foundation that would lead him to become the first African American President of the United States. Like his father, Barack Obama Sr., Obama progressed throughout Harvard and graduated in 1991 with a degree in Law. Obama’s story begins on August 4, 1961, in Honolulu, Hawaii. Obama Sr. wasn’t available when Barack was growing up, which made his stepfather, grandfather, his mother Ann Dunham and his grandmother raise him. In his childhood, many kids teased him about his ethnicity and skin color but this didn't weaken Obama himself (“Barack Obama” Barack). He later attended Occidental College and Columbia University, where he graduated in 1983 with a degree in political science. After attending Columbia University, Obama lived in Chicago and eventually became the State Senator of Illinois in 1996. His focus mainly consisted of improving child education and living conditions of the poor. After serving as a state Senator for nearly 13 years, he decided to run for president in 2007. In 2008, Obama faced his Republican opponent John McCain and defeated him to become the President of the United States of America (History.com Editors). Despite enduring hate and many racial issues, Obama used his peaceful way of thinking to care about other people. Barack Obama isn’t only a former president, he is also a hero because of how much he cares about his people and his peaceful way of approaching situations.

Barack Obama’s caring and humble attitude made people feel safer and more hopeful in the future. A dark day in Obama’s presidential career is the day of the Newtown Shootings. His response to the Newtown Shootings was to issue gun safety laws: As a result of the loss of life on that day, Obama pledged to work toward stronger gun control in the United States. The perpetrator took the lives of twenty children and six adults, bringing worldwide attention to the otherwise quiet community. Obama visited Newtown that month to speak publicly about the tragedy and meet privately with the grieving families. On January 16, 2013, Obama made good on his promise and announced twenty-three executive orders concerning gun control that included strengthening the system of background checks on all individuals purchasing guns. ("Barack Obama." Contemporary) Obama’s executive orders and better background checks expressed the feelings he had for the kids in Newtown. He cared about these young kids and he wanted to honor them, which is shown by the executive orders and grieving. Instead of making this mistake again, Obama immediately put out orders to not endure that horrible event again. During his position as the state Senator of Illinois, Obama restructured the state and focused on its weak points: He helped create a state earned-income tax credit that benefited the working poor, promoted subsidies for early childhood education programs and worked with law enforcement officials to require the videotaping of interrogations and confessions in all capital cases. (History.com Editors) Obama carried his charisma to his people before becoming president. He had empathy on his people as the state Senator, which made him install child education and help for the poor (he tries to pay people back by helping them). His motivation is to do what is best for his country and nothing else. He is a caring man that cares about his country's future and current decisions.

As the President of the United States, Barack Obama attempted to approach situations in a peaceful manner. To promote his peaceful of thinking to the public, Obama presented an idea that made many people notice him: “Obama gave the keynote speech at the 2004 Democratic National Convention in Boston, shooting to national prominence with his eloquent call for unity among 'red' (Republican) and 'blue' (Democratic) states” (History.com Editors). Obama doesn’t want people of his own country to dispute and argue; he wants them to unite and to stay as one. He wants the “United” in the United States of America to stand for the unity between the Democrats and Republicans. He wants to perceive the United States as a place where people are together. Obama’s thinking also leads him to become in peace with some countries, which include India and Indonesia: "Obama traveled to India and Indonesia in November 2010 to discuss trade issues and reaffirm diplomatic relations between the two countries and the United States. It was the president's first visit to Indonesia since the years he spent living there as a grade school student” (“Barack Obama.” Barack). Obama proves to be a peaceful president by visiting India and Indonesia. He wants to let every country know that the US is an ally. Obama’s peaceful way of thinking not only benefited the United States, but it also benefited his reputation and his ideas.

Barack Obama’s generous actions and his solutions to solving problems make him a hero. His response to the Newtown Shootings expressed how much he cared about the kids that lost their lives. He also attempted to establish peace with Indonesia because he didn’t want enemies. Obama motivated me as a person mainly because of the charismatic way he captured the public. When he was elected as the President of the United States, Obama inspired the attendees of the Grant Park by being honest: "Taking the stage in Chicago’s Grant Park with Michelle and their two young daughters, Malia and Sasha, Obama acknowledged the historic nature of his win while reflecting on the serious challenges that lay ahead. 'The road ahead will be long, our climb will be steep. We may not get there in one year or even one term, but America, I have never been more hopeful than I am tonight that we will get there. I promise you, we as a people will get there'" (History.com Editors). Not only did Obama inspire me with his honesty, but he also influenced me as well by being the first African American President of the United States. He encouraged many minorities and me to not give up and to keep on working hard. His presidency also implies that people from different ethnicities, religions, and origins can be anything. Hope was the feeling that every minority felt during Obama’s office terms. I viewed him as the dashing knight that saved the princess (minorities) from the dragon (racism and segregation) before the castle (USA) burned. Even though Obama became famous for his political career, it doesn’t take fame to be a hero. Similar to how Obama began his legacy by being the first African American President of the Harvard Law Review, you can begin yours by being the first in something that you are really passionate about!

Works Cited

“Barack Obama.” Barack Obama (Biography Today), May 2011, p. 1. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=b6h&AN=34631761&site=brc-live.

"Barack Obama." Contemporary Black Biography, vol. 74, Gale, 2009. Biography In Context, https://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/K1606004418/BIC?u=powa9245&sid=BIC&xid=ac11cbff. Accessed 7 Dec. 2018.

History.com Editors. “Barack Obama”. History.com, A&E Television Networks, November 9, 2009, www.history.com/topics/us-presidents/barack-obama.