Barack Obama: African-American
2023-12-31
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1VOA Learning English presents America's Presidents.
2Today we are talking about Barack Obama.
3He first took office in 2009 and was re-elected in 2012.
4Because his presidency is so recent, this program will not try to offer a historical perspective.
5But one part of his legacy is already clear.
6Obama is the United States' first African-American president.
7His father was a black man from Kenya; his mother was a white American from the Midwestern state of Kansas.
8For many Americans, Obama's presidency was an important symbol in a country that permitted black people to be enslaved.
9And, even after the U.S. Constitution officially banned slavery in 1865, African-Americans have been extremely under-represented in the U.S. government.
10By 2009, only five African-Americans had ever served in the U.S. Senate - and Obama was one of them.
11Even many people who did not vote for Obama said his election to the country's highest office made them proud or hopeful.
12A public opinion survey immediately after Election Day found that two-thirds of Americans believed that the country's racial conflicts could be resolved.
13Obama's parents met as students at the University of Hawaii.
14His father had won a scholarship to study economics.
15His mother went on to earn a degree in math there, as well as a graduate degree.
16The two married and had a son, whom they named after his father: Barack Hussein Obama, Jr.
17But the couple soon separated.
18The older Barack Obama returned to Kenya, where he later died in a car accident.
19Barack's mother went on to marry another man. He was from Indonesia.
20The family moved to Jakarta, and the couple had a daughter named Maya.
21When Barack was 10, his mother sent him back to Hawaii to live with her parents.
22She wanted him to get a good education.
23Barack finished high school in Hawaii, then went on to Occidental College in Los Angeles.
24After two years, he transferred to Columbia University in New York.
25There, he completed a degree in political science.
26But Obama said the best education he received was in one of his first jobs.
27He worked as a community organizer in Chicago. He helped people who lived in public housing put pressure on the city government to improve their conditions.
28Obama later said the work showed him how important it was to understand the legal process.
29So he entered Harvard Law School.
30Over the next years, Obama worked as a lawyer, wrote a book about his experience as a person of mixed race, and married Michelle Robinson, a woman he worked with at a law firm.
31She and Barack Obama settled in Chicago and had two daughters, Malia and Sasha.
32When he was in his mid-30s, Obama began his political career.
33He was elected three times to the Illinois state senate.
34After 10 years there, he won a seat in the U.S. Senate in a landslide victory.
35That same year, Obama attended the Democratic National Convention - the meeting where the party officially nominates a presidential candidate.
36Obama was not one of the candidates.
37But the Democrats asked him to make an important speech.
38In it, Obama famously talked about how his life story was an American story.
39He said he was confident the U.S. could overcome its divisions and achieve unity.
40"There's not a liberal America and a conservative America," he said.
41"...There's not a black America and white America and Latino America and Asian America. There's a United States of America."
42Only four years later, Obama would be elected its 44th president.
43I'm Kelly Jean Kelly.
1VOA Learning English presents America's Presidents. 2Today we are talking about Barack Obama. 3He first took office in 2009 and was re-elected in 2012. Because his presidency is so recent, this program will not try to offer a historical perspective. 4But one part of his legacy is already clear. Obama is the United States' first African-American president. His father was a black man from Kenya; his mother was a white American from the Midwestern state of Kansas. 5For many Americans, Obama's presidency was an important symbol in a country that permitted black people to be enslaved. 6And, even after the U.S. Constitution officially banned slavery in 1865, African-Americans have been extremely under-represented in the U.S. government. 7By 2009, only five African-Americans had ever served in the U.S. Senate - and Obama was one of them. 8Even many people who did not vote for Obama said his election to the country's highest office made them proud or hopeful. A public opinion survey immediately after Election Day found that two-thirds of Americans believed that the country's racial conflicts could be resolved. 9Early life 10Obama's parents met as students at the University of Hawaii. His father had won a scholarship to study economics. His mother went on to earn a degree in math there, as well as a graduate degree. 11The two married and had a son, whom they named after his father: Barack Hussein Obama, Jr. 12But the couple soon separated. The older Barack Obama returned to Kenya, where he later died in a car accident. 13Barack's mother went on to marry another man. He was from Indonesia. The family moved to Jakarta, and the couple had a daughter named Maya. 14When Barack was 10, his mother sent him back to Hawaii to live with her parents. She wanted him to get a good education. Barack finished high school in Hawaii, then went on to Occidental College in Los Angeles. 15After two years, he transferred to Columbia University in New York. There, he completed a degree in political science. 16But Obama said the best education he received was in one of his first jobs. He worked as a community organizer in Chicago. He helped people who lived in public housing put pressure on the city government to improve their conditions. 17Obama later said the work showed him how important it was to understand the legal process. So he entered Harvard Law School. 18Over the next years, Obama worked as a lawyer, wrote a book about his experience as a person of mixed race, and married Michelle Robinson, a woman he worked with at a law firm. 19She and Barack Obama settled in Chicago and had two daughters, Malia and Sasha. 20When he was in his mid-30s, Obama began his political career. He was elected three times to the Illinois state senate. After 10 years there, he won a seat in the U.S. Senate in a landslide victory. 21That same year, Obama attended the Democratic National Convention - the meeting where the party officially nominates a presidential candidate. Obama was not one of the candidates. But the Democrats asked him to make an important speech. 22In it, Obama famously talked about how his life story was an American story. He said he was confident the U.S. could overcome its divisions and achieve unity. 23"There's not a liberal America and a conservative America," he said. "...There's not a black America and white America and Latino America and Asian America. There's a United States of America." 24Only four years later, Obama would be elected its 44th president. 25I'm Kelly Jean Kelly. 26Kelly Jean Kelly wrote this story for Learning English. Hai Do was the editor. 27___________________________________________ 28See how well you understand the story by taking this listening quiz. Play each video, then choose the best answer. 29____________________________________________ 30Words in This Story 31perspective - n. a way of thinking about and understanding something 32firm - n. a business organization 33liberal - adj. believing that government should be active in supporting social and political change 34conservative - adj. believing in the value of established and traditional practices in politics and society