Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance

Obama and his family members live in and travel to various places over the course of the narrative. Discuss the relationship between identity and place in the book, taking care to discuss in detail how Barack Obama's experiences in each location shape his identity.

As the child of a white, American mother and a black, Kenyan father, Obama is at times forced to embrace the culture and ideals of one of his parents. Discuss Obama's perspective on the culture of each parent and how (if at all) he attempts to reconcile his location in two cultures. Does Obama embrace a multiracial identity, or does he choose to identify as African American?

Obama's journey in Part One ofDreams from My Father is about coming to terms with being African American in the U.S. during the 1970s, 1980s, and 2000s. Trace the evolution of Obama's racial identity during these periods in his life, taking care to discuss the influence of historical and cultural context on this evolution.

Using details from the novel and research, discuss the impact of colonialism and postcolonialism on the history of Kenya and the Obama family in particular.

The relationships between parents and their children, particularly between fathers and son, serve as significant sources of tension in the book. Describe the relationship between parents and their children in the novel. What seems to be Obama's message about parents and children?

The Obama family is a sprawling one because of the Luo practice of taking multiple wives during Hussein Onyango's era and Obama Sr.'s multiple relationships with women over his lifetime. Create a family tree to outline the relationships among these family members. What impact does this family structure have on the lives of the Obama children over multiple generations?

An important element of Obama's struggle for identity is his attempt to understand and confront racism. Discuss the forms of racism Obama encounters in the novel and his attempts to deal with racism.

Obama experiences stress throughout the novel as he attempts to come to terms with his father's legacy, particularly his fear that he will in some way make the same mistakes as his father. Compare and contrast the lives of Obama and his father. How do their choices and approaches to personal relationships and accomplishing goals compare?