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Obama's father was an abusive alcoholic, his half-brother says
(CNN) -- Barack Obama's father was more abusive and violent than the president was aware of, according to his half-brother, who has written a memoir about their father.
Mark Obama Ndesandjo, who is several years younger than the President, described their father as a brilliant man. But he was also an alcoholic, a "social failure" and an abusive husband, he said.
"I remember the sounds of my mothers' screams and I remember the sounds of breaking, things breaking," he told CNN. "And I remember that I couldn't protect her. That's something that no child ever forgets."
He said he especially remembered a violent episode when he was 6 or 7.
"My father actually broke -- came in the door, against the restraining order, and held a knife to my mother's throat," he said.
Barack Obama apparently met their father once because his parents got divorced soon after he was born.
Ndesandjo and the president have the same father, but Obama's mother was the second wife while Ndesandjo's mother was his third wife.
Unlike Obama, Ndesandjo grew up with his father.
The president is lucky he never lived with his father, according to David Maraniss, author of "Barack Obama: The Story."
"It would have been a much more difficult upbringing," he said.
Divergent views of family history have caused some strain among Obama relatives, according to Ndesandjo.
"Barack I don't think accepts -- or at least does not want to know -- the details of the beatings that occurred in our family," he said. "I love my brother. He's a great president. Sometimes he's a lousy brother."
The White House did not respond to e-mails and phone calls Thursday about the president's half-brother's book. But in a 2009 interview with CNN, the president said he was not blind to the flaws of his father.
"It's no secret that my father was a troubled person. Anybody who has read my first book, "Dreams from My Father," knows that, you know, he had an alcoholism problem, that he didn't treat his families very well," he said. "Obviously it's a sad part of my history and my background. But it's not something that I spend a lot of time brooding over."
Ndesandjo and Obama have several things in common: similar good looks, biracial ethnicity, the same father and each had an American mother.
Despite their similarities, this is not the first time the two have been at odds.
When they first met in Kenya in the 1980s, Ndesandjo was growing up there and trying to connect with his American roots, he said.
At the time, Obama came from America and was "really looking for that African side of him, and was trying to find more about himself and his identity. And I respect that. But I also felt that there was a rejection of a lot of Western culture," Ndesandjo said.
"I felt that my brother -- at that time - felt that I was too white," he said. "And I thought he was too black."
When they first met, Ndesandjo said, his half-brother came on strong. "That imposing voice, and also that commanding presence -- he was almost like a barracuda with his questions," Ndesandjo said.
But even if their diverging views of the Obama family's history sometimes put the two siblings at odds, Ndesandjo said there were also things he was grateful for. His brother's example, he said, helped him re-embrace the Obama name that he had long shunned.
And some years ago, when they met after 20 years of separation, they shared some good times.
"We laughed, and we hugged, and that was one of the most wonderful moments of my life. And Barack made it possible," he said.
Ndesandjo, who lives near Hong Kong, hopes to raise awareness of domestic violence when the book is published in February. Some of the proceeds, he said, will go to his foundation for disadvantaged children.
SOURCE: http://www.cnn.com/2013/12/20/politics/obama-father-abusive/index.html?hpt=po_c2
Mark Obama Ndesandjo, who is several years younger than the President, described their father as a brilliant man. But he was also an alcoholic, a "social failure" and an abusive husband, he said.
"I remember the sounds of my mothers' screams and I remember the sounds of breaking, things breaking," he told CNN. "And I remember that I couldn't protect her. That's something that no child ever forgets."
He said he especially remembered a violent episode when he was 6 or 7.
"My father actually broke -- came in the door, against the restraining order, and held a knife to my mother's throat," he said.
Barack Obama apparently met their father once because his parents got divorced soon after he was born.
Ndesandjo and the president have the same father, but Obama's mother was the second wife while Ndesandjo's mother was his third wife.
Unlike Obama, Ndesandjo grew up with his father.
The president is lucky he never lived with his father, according to David Maraniss, author of "Barack Obama: The Story."
"It would have been a much more difficult upbringing," he said.
Divergent views of family history have caused some strain among Obama relatives, according to Ndesandjo.
"Barack I don't think accepts -- or at least does not want to know -- the details of the beatings that occurred in our family," he said. "I love my brother. He's a great president. Sometimes he's a lousy brother."
The White House did not respond to e-mails and phone calls Thursday about the president's half-brother's book. But in a 2009 interview with CNN, the president said he was not blind to the flaws of his father.
"It's no secret that my father was a troubled person. Anybody who has read my first book, "Dreams from My Father," knows that, you know, he had an alcoholism problem, that he didn't treat his families very well," he said. "Obviously it's a sad part of my history and my background. But it's not something that I spend a lot of time brooding over."
Ndesandjo and Obama have several things in common: similar good looks, biracial ethnicity, the same father and each had an American mother.
Despite their similarities, this is not the first time the two have been at odds.
When they first met in Kenya in the 1980s, Ndesandjo was growing up there and trying to connect with his American roots, he said.
At the time, Obama came from America and was "really looking for that African side of him, and was trying to find more about himself and his identity. And I respect that. But I also felt that there was a rejection of a lot of Western culture," Ndesandjo said.
"I felt that my brother -- at that time - felt that I was too white," he said. "And I thought he was too black."
When they first met, Ndesandjo said, his half-brother came on strong. "That imposing voice, and also that commanding presence -- he was almost like a barracuda with his questions," Ndesandjo said.
But even if their diverging views of the Obama family's history sometimes put the two siblings at odds, Ndesandjo said there were also things he was grateful for. His brother's example, he said, helped him re-embrace the Obama name that he had long shunned.
And some years ago, when they met after 20 years of separation, they shared some good times.
"We laughed, and we hugged, and that was one of the most wonderful moments of my life. And Barack made it possible," he said.
Ndesandjo, who lives near Hong Kong, hopes to raise awareness of domestic violence when the book is published in February. Some of the proceeds, he said, will go to his foundation for disadvantaged children.
SOURCE: http://www.cnn.com/2013/12/20/politics/obama-father-abusive/index.html?hpt=po_c2
Back in the bizarro world again.
I'm not shocked when I hear about domestic violence occurring in the black community, nor am I shocked when I hear about it occurring in the white community.
My point WAS NOT to insinuate that it's only happening in the black community, but I think THAT'S how OH read it, and what she inferred from my comment.
I know it happens in both black & white households.
That said, MY comment was facetious in nature, that's it. Kinda like: "A Mexican illegally crossed the border?!? The H3LL you say!!!" See what I'm saying?
If you get it, great! If not, then just maybe you don't get my sense of humor (but I think you do;-).
BTW... got a 'Thank You' card, through the website, from one of the families that I helped out. I appreciate the article you wrote, as it really DID inspire me to help out/pitch in, to a specific cause, instead of what I normally would do (which I simply donate to a local charity). Thank you Amanda... going to do this each & every year!
My point WAS NOT to insinuate that it's only happening in the black community, but I think THAT'S how OH read it, and what she inferred from my comment.
I know it happens in both black & white households.
That said, MY comment was facetious in nature, that's it. Kinda like: "A Mexican illegally crossed the border?!? The H3LL you say!!!" See what I'm saying?
If you get it, great! If not, then just maybe you don't get my sense of humor (but I think you do;-).
BTW... got a 'Thank You' card, through the website, from one of the families that I helped out. I appreciate the article you wrote, as it really DID inspire me to help out/pitch in, to a specific cause, instead of what I normally would do (which I simply donate to a local charity). Thank you Amanda... going to do this each & every year!
Domestic violence occurs in every culture, ever socio economic background and there is no race more prone to or immune to it. It is sadly everywhere. El, I know you were not intending to say it is more prevelant in the black community because I know you don't really think the way. I think your comments are just reading wrong - they must be.
Um, this is relevant how ???
The man left Obama's mother when Obama was two.
My husband and I are going to dinner at a Kenyan family's home today. They are indeed black. They are also devout Christians,a lovely family with two adorable boys so. . .
why am I bothering trying to convince a bigot that there are good black people too ???
You El, have proven yourself to be unworthy of the time it takes for me to type.
Ciao.
The man left Obama's mother when Obama was two.
My husband and I are going to dinner at a Kenyan family's home today. They are indeed black. They are also devout Christians,a lovely family with two adorable boys so. . .
why am I bothering trying to convince a bigot that there are good black people too ???
You El, have proven yourself to be unworthy of the time it takes for me to type.
Ciao.
I try not to think about the 1/2 of me that's black, and distance myself from it as much as possible.
Think of me what you will. I'm good with whatever comes out of your fingertips...
Think of me what you will. I'm good with whatever comes out of your fingertips...
For a black guy you're really down on blacks.
What's that about?
What's that about?
So you are saying that a black man was a failure, a drunk, an unemployed leech, and a wife-beater who abandoned his kids?
Color me SHOCKED!
Color me SHOCKED!
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