Making Sense of Society: The Sociological Imagination - Family and Race/Ethnicity Analysis of Barack Obama

This report analyzes the impact of family and race/ethnicity on the life of Barack Obama using the sociological imagination. It discusses his family background, education, and career, as well as the racism he faced as the first African American president of the US.

LC473: - MAKING SENSE
OF SOCIETY: THE
SOCIOLOGICAL
IMAGINATION

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................3
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................6
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................7

INTRODUCTION
The sociological imagination is being defined as the capacity of the person to shift from
one perspective to another (Celarent, 2017). A person lives in the society and it is very important
for them to have a good perception relating to each and every aspect of the society. The race is
being defined as the physical traits whereas ethnicity is being defined as cultural identification of
a person (The difference between race and ethnicity, 2021). On the other hand, family involves
the people belonging to the person and how it affects the life of that person. the present study is
based on a public figure which is Barack Obama. Hence, the current study will outline the
analysis of public figure and it will be based on two different themes. The theme selected for the
study is family and another one is race/ ethnicity.
MAIN BODY
Family
Barack Obama also known as Barack Hussein Obama II who was born on 4th August
1961 in Honolulu in Hawaii US. He was 44th president of US (2009- 17) and was the first
African American for holding the office. Obama’s father was a teenage goatherd in rural Kenya
and had won a scholarship. Further after that they became a senior economist within the Kenyan
government. Barack’s mother S. Ann Dunham grew up in Kansas in Texas and in 1960 she met
Barack Sr. in Russian language class at university of Hawaii and married him (Blommaert,
2018). At the time when Obama was of age two Barack Sr. left to study in Harvard university
and after that Ann and Barack Sr. got divorced. Later then Ann remarried and this time she
married to another foreign student named Lolo Soetoro from Indonesia with whom she had her
second child Maya.
Obama lived in Jakarta for several years with his mother, stepfather and half- sister. For
his education, Barack Obama has attended both government run school where he received
instruction in Islam and in Catholic private school wherein he undertook Christian schooling.
The family generally lived a middle class existence and Obama attended Occidental college in
suburban of Los Angles for two years and transferred to Columbia university. Further after
receiving the law degree he moved to become active in democratic party. In the year 1996 he
was selected to the Illinois Senate where he helped in passing legislations which tightened

campaign finance regulations. In the year 2004 he was elected as a US Senate wherein the two
leading candidates were African American (Norgaard, 2018).
The chosen theme that is family plays a crucial role within the personal growth and
development of the person. This is particularly because of the reason that when the family
background of the person is not good then this will definitely affect the career of the person. In
the similar manner, the Barack also faced many family issues which might have affected his
mind. But then also he managed to work in proper and effective manner and grow himself for
getting a better and effective life ahead (Wilson, 2019). In case the family background of person
is very good then it will be easier for the person to have a good life. Also, this can result in
negative manner as already the person is having good family, money and status. So it is not
necessary that the person will be motivated to do any work as already they are having all the
comfort and leisure. But in case of Barack Obama this was not there as his father left him when
he was two and again this would have affected the mental status of him. But then also he
managed to have a good education and this resulted in Barack having a good life in future and
motivated him to work in proper and effective manner so that his future generation does not have
any issues.
The structure is being defined as the recurrent patterned arrangement which can influence
or limit the choices and opportunities being present with the person. On the other side, agency is
referred to as the capacity of individual to act independently in order to make their own choices
practical. Hence, in the present case of Obama, he was undertaking the technique of agency as he
made his life and career by himself (Jones and Cox, 2018). This simply undertook with help of
his firm determination and confidence. Thus, the capability of Barack resulted in the effective
working and accomplishment of the goals of his life. In addition to this, Barack was also having
good knowledge relating to the politics and this assisted him to develop as a good leader. Also,
this capability of Obama assisted him in developing a good career and this resulted in making a
good money and to have a stable and good life.
Race /Ethnicity
Barack Obama has faced the racism in his life due to it colour of body. The mentioned
personality is 50% of European descent which gives opportunity to people to highlight the
factors regarding its parent’s nationality (Mac Donald, 2020). This can be articulated that his
father was from Kenya which has become one of the crucial reason for which Obama has been

criticized. He himself has said numerous times as mixed race. Barack Obama is having been
first American African which has highlighted its story in public space. There are various racism
attacks he has faced during his life as several questions about his nationality that where he has
born and tagged as black man from as whites in southern states.
It has been articulated many times by Obama that it is important to acknowledge that
racism is deeply rooted in our culture. American society wanted to boycott him due to his black
colour as president of the country. The racism has not been faced in the times of his presidency
but before that as well he has been criticizing. Various opportunity that Obama has lost due to
racism factor pointed by culture of America. There are certain incidents that has affected the
emotional state which includes that he was a child growing in Hawaii while female neighbour
has refused to go in lift with him. This helps in understanding that personal experience as child
growing who has faced racism has been interpreted that he can harm other people
(Ramasubramanian and Martinez, 2017). In addition to this, several circumstances have enabled
the Barack Obama to face inequalities due racism prevailing in society. The sense of being
feared due to personality as blackish man continued as he grew older as people used to close
doors whenever he passes from nearby place.
The selected theme is having higher contribution in personal development and growth of
Obama. Obama as being the first African Plus American president that has enabled the society
to question his capabilities of working as gained position. The growth & development of Obama
has been affected personal achievements (Clemons, 2021.). Whenever person has been pointed
due to his body factors creates negative elements in personal life in many ways. In addition to
this, variety of opportunities his not provided to individual due to perception of white people of
perceiving himself inferior. While playing football he has been abused by white players that has
highly affected Obama to revert these types of racism. This particular activity has result in
showing anger of Obama by breaking nose of other person (Pernell and Saleem, 2021). In the
times of election opposition parties has took advantages by highlighting racism related policies.
After becoming the present Obama has faced racism in white house as well along with his
family. Lack of respect used to provide by opposition in white house while addressing present
and first black man, African & American combined personality, etc. such words used to present
position and personality of Barack Obama.

Structure of this particular selected theme is to related with affecting the behaviour of
mentioned personality in respect of attitude, perception, etc. It can be stated that Barack Obama
behaviour has become sensitive towards the same people in the society who faces racism.
Agency is concerned with independent capability to act regarding something. In the case study
regarding Barack Obama this can be identified that with help of his independent ability he has
become able to work for the welfare of society. This is one of the objective of his life to
eliminate racism from American society so that better opportunities can be accomplished for
personal growth. Barack Obama has become successful to certain extent due to his own ability
to encourage people to use their right to live better life. In addition to this, his leadership quality
has enabled him to achieve his personal objectives of life by removing racism factors.
CONCLUSION
From the above report it can be concluded that sociology play important role in
structuring, pattern of social responsibilities, etc. In addition to this, current report is based on
evaluating two themes such as family & racism that play crucial role in impacting individual life.
The particular report has been made in context of Barack Obama by highlighting chosen theme.
In context of family Obama's crucial factors regarding related member has been addressed in
present report. The particular report has comprised the information regarding racism practices
that mentioned personality has faced in his life. Agency & structures that can influence the
personal life of Obama has been included in current report.

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Blommaert, J., 2018. Durkheim and the internet: On sociolinguistics and the sociological
imagination. Bloomsbury Publishing.
Clemons, M. L., 2021. The Manifestations, Effects, and Dynamics of Race and Racism in the
Campaign and Governance of Barack Obama. Spectrum: A Journal on Black Men. 8(2).
pp.75-105.
Jones, R.P. and Cox, D., 2018. President Barack Obama and His Faith. In Religion and the
American Presidency (pp. 261-284). Palgrave Macmillan, Cham.
Mac Donald, H., 2020. The myth of systemic police racism. The Wall Street Journal. 2.
Norgaard, K.M., 2018. The sociological imagination in a time of climate change. Global and
Planetary Change, 163, pp.171-176.
Pernell, L. and Saleem, O., 2021. Cases and Materials on Combating Racism in Criminal
Procedure. Vandeplas Publishing.
Ramasubramanian, S. and Martinez, A. R., 2017. News framing of Obama, racialized scrutiny,
and symbolic racism. Howard Journal of Communications,. 28(1). pp.36-54.
Wilson, J.K., 2019. President Barack Obama: a more perfect union. Routledge.
Celarent, B., 2017. Varieties of social imagination. University of Chicago Press.
Online
The difference between race and ethnicity. 2021. [Online]. Available through: <
https://www.verywellmind.com/difference-between-race-and-ethnicity-5074205 >