By Walter Wilson Nana
Barack Hussein Obama:
Here is Barack Hussein Obama's inaugural theme; "Renewing America's Promise". These words will constitute the invisible guide of Obama's historic sojourn in the White House.
Who then is this newfound White House tenant? He is 47, father of two and husband to Michelle. Barack Obama is the 44th US President. He is the first African American President, and his promise to change not only America, but also the world, has made him a hero even before he superseded George Walker Bush in the White House.
Obama, who was inaugurated on Tuesday, January 20 at the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, in the Capitol building, Washington DC, is now the President of a country said to be the most powerful in the world.
The January 20 inaugural is coming on the heels of Obama's triumphant, November 4, 2008 moving victory speech. A speech, given before hundreds and thousands of supporters in his hometown, Chicago, that brought grown men to tears.
Obama's victory has heralded a new age for America, a country, which can finally say that it has burned its historical bridges through the election of its pioneer black president. A feat only a great like Obama could accomplish.
He was born in Honolulu, Hawai in 1961 to American Ann Dunham and Kenyan Barack Obama Sr. Precisely from a village called Kogelo.His parents separated when he was two years old and in 1967, he moved to Jakarta, Indonesia, with his mother and stepfather.
At 10, Obama came back to Hawai to live with his maternal grandparents.
After an honourable school career, he made his way back to the American mainland to graduate from prestigious Ivy League Columbia University in New York, with a degree in political science.
He is known as one of the most liberal senators in the US Senate and his promise for change is evidence of this. Obama is interested in finding a long term solution to the energy crisis (through means other than further oil drilling). He is also into making healthcare and education accessible to all, regardless of race or economic standing.
His attitude towards foreign policy gives hope to the dream that America could be on good terms with the rest of the world once again.
Since Obama has become an international hero, Hollywood writers are already drooling with the anticipation of penning down a big-budget production about his road to the White House. While that is yet to be done on the silver screen as a president, African American performer, Denzel Washington's critically acclaimed performance as Malcolm X, makes him the front runner to play the new American president on the big screen. With a surname like Washington, who expect anything less? However, we hear destiny is calling as Will Smith would be a solid runner up.
While we look forward to that some day, Obama already has his favourite Hollywood or big-screen president. Who's that? Jeff Bridges in the movie "The Contender." "That was a great movie president. He was charming and essentially, an honourable person but there was a rogue about him," President Obama told ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY of Bridges' portrayal.
Michelle Obama
Michelle Obama is the new and first African American first lady. After the November presidential elections, Michelle has captured the imagination of the country with her poise, intellect and overall confident persona.
In the past year, the country has come to know her as a woman who is strong, down-to-earth, compassionate and extremely supportive of her husband. Obama relied on her to be his confidante and special source of strength on his way to becoming the Democratic nominee for president and subsequently president of the USA.
For people who know Michelle, have known all along how special she is, how committed she is and how dedicated she is to help bring about change in the US.With Michelle's new level of celebrity (desired or not), her signature style and haven passed through that historic address on Pennsylvania Avenue on Tuesday, January 20, there have been the frequent and inevitable comparisons to former first lady, Jacqueline Kennedy, who had this discriminating style and a fashion sense that influenced women around the world.
Although flattered by the comparison, Michelle is her own woman, with her style and sense of what is appropriate in all phases of her life.Who is this woman, who has defied stereotypes, as she and her husband paved a path no African American has walked before? Michelle attends to her family, maintains her friendships and makes time to sculpt those amazing arms.
She is a 5-foot-11 inch African American woman, who grew up on the South Side of Chicago. She is the daughter of working class parents, the sister of a basket ball coach. A degrees holder from Princeton University and Harvard Law School. Mother of two girls;
Malia, 10, and Sasha, 7.
Michelle Lavaughn Robinson Obama was born, January 17, 1964 in her hometown, Chicago. She did high school at Whitney M. Young Magnet HS.
1985, she went to college at Princeton University and in 1988, she will move to graduate school at Harvard Law School.
Summer of 1988, Michelle met Barack at Sidley Austin Law Firm. October 18, 1992, she got married to Barack Obama.
Michelle gave birth to Malia Ann Obama in 1998 and in 2001; she gave birth to Natasha Obama (Sasha).
The Obama Girls
Malia and Sasha have been consistently described as fun, well mannered girls. Mama Kaye, a family friend commented; "Those girls really know how to play. They will love being in the White House!"
Even during the presidential race, they continue to be their parents' top priority.
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