In no other country on earth is my story even possible.
—Barack Obama, July 27, 2004On July 27, 2004, Illinois State Senator Barack Obama delivered the keynote
speech at the Democratic National Convention. He said, “Tonight is
a particular honor for me because, let’s face it, my presence on this stage is
pretty unlikely.” When he finished his speech, the audience that listened
with rapt attention excitedly waved their arms, hats, and signs, thrilled
with what they had just heard. Afterward, those watching on television
said that they had stood and cheered, many admitting they danced. Some
wondered what had just happened. For many Democrats, the speech was
electrifying and inspiring; for them, it was a joyful time. And those from
the other side of the political aisle who watched and listened had to agree:
this fresh face, this politico, unknown to nearly everyone in the country
outside of his home state of Illinois, had just delivered a remarkable
speech. Many asked, who is this man and where did he come from? They
asked why he was selected to deliver such an important speech at the
Democratic National Convention at a time described by many as a very
contentious time in U.S. politics.
In the speech that evening—a speech that he wrote himself and delivered
without the use of a teleprompter—Barack Obama introduced
himself by first describing his father, born and raised in a small village in
Kenya, and his paternal grandfather, a cook and domestic servant who,
he said, had big dreams for his son. He told the immense crowd that his
father, through hard work and perseverance, earned a scholarship to study
in a magical place called America, which to his Kenyan countrymen was a
place of freedom and opportunity. Barack told the excited crowd that July
evening that his maternal grandfather worked on oil rigs and farms during
the Depression and, just after Pearl Harbor, joined the army, and that
his grandmother, while raising their baby, worked on a bomber assembly
line during the war. He described how his grandparents moved west from
Kansas, seeking opportunities, ultimately moving to Hawaii. They too,
he said, had big dreams for their daughter. He said his parents met while
studying at the University of Hawaii and that they shared not only an improbable
love, but also an abiding faith in the possibilities of this nation.
Barack said that this country’s pride is based on a simple premise, summed
up in the Declaration of Independence, as “the true genius of America, a
faith in the simple dreams of its people, the insistence on small miracles.”
The speech that evening undeniably catapulted this state senator from
Illinois
onto the national political scene. If Americans hadn’t heard of
him before, they certainly knew about him now.
Barack Obama says that his story could take place only in America. He
often adds that, like his parents and grandparents, anyone can achieve
success through hard work and scholarship. His story is filled with good
fortune, hard work, and a very good education. It is also a story of diversity
of heritage that he is proud of—that is, after he came to understand
and accept it.
In the United States, many political leaders throughout history have
come from powerful families. For Barack Obama, this is far from the truth.
His upbringing was in humble circumstances, and, while he doesn’t fit
any typical political mold, he is already considered by many to be one of
the most dynamic figures in U.S. politics. His oratory skills, direct style,
and ability to communicate are often compared with those of Abraham
Lincoln, John F. Kennedy, and Robert Kennedy.
Barack Obama is truly a rising political star in the United States. With
an African first name that means “blessed,” his name is often mispronounced
and sometimes ridiculed. However seemingly blessed, he states
that he is meant to serve and to lead, and perhaps someday be president
of the United States.
