Far Away Fathers

The absence of the "Old Man" has a huge impact on Barack just as my father's death has had on me. At the beginning of his memoir Barack is living his life in a way that will live up to his idea of his father. He never really knew his father, but he has gathered small pieces of his old man's personality and made him into an educated, wise, and powerful man. It wasn't until he meets his half-sister that this idea is shattered and he becomes even more confused with who he is as a person. He realizes his dad is a deadbeat, unsuccessful and irresponsible man that verbally abuses his children, leaving them all with insecurities and emotional distress. Barack never had a father figure in his life, which leaves him without a role model in a world where he is part of a painfully small minority. His life becomes a journey of self discovery and hardship. My father died when I was eight, leaving my family in disbelief and sadness. I don't remember a lot about my dad, but the idea of him is instilled in me from the stories I hear from my family. I have my own memories, of course, but they are clouded from years of reflection and meditation. Through this experience, I relate well with Barack. It is a very painful experience to grow up without a father. When everyone around you has that person they can go to in order to feel secure it is hard to be content with the family you were given. You start to feel stripped of an essential tool for survival of everyday life. It is a very unique experience to grow up without a father and this allows me to connect, on a different level, with Barack Obama.