Halaman 38-39

In his first year at Punahou, when he was ten, Obama received a quite unexpected Christmas gift: a visit
from his father. To this day, those several weeks are the only memories of Barack Sr. that Obama holds.

Barry had wondered why on earth a black man, who was a member of such an esteemed people, would
want to make himself appear less than black? After such discoveries, his young inquisitive mind became
suspicious of his mothers portrayal of blacks as superior beings.

One incident from the visit also stuck out: Obama recalled starkly how his father drew the wrath of his
grandmother and his mother when he stepped in and forbade Obama to watch a classic holiday
television cartoon, How the Grinch Stole Christmas. His youthful innocence was being lost, and he was
confronted with a wholly different image of his heritage.

My fathers absence in my life, it was just so complicated, Obama explained in my first extended
interview with him in December 2003.