“That's just how white folks will do you. It wasn't merely the cruelty involved; I was learning that black people could be mean and then some. It was a particular brand of arrogance, an obtuseness in otherwise sane people that brought forth our bitter laughter. It was as if whites didn't know they were being cruel in the first place. Or at least thought you deserved of their scorn.”

American retired politician

Barack Obama is an American retired politician who served as the 44th president of the United States from 2009 to 2017. A member of the Democratic Party, he was the first African American to hold the office. Before the presidency, Obama represented Illinois in the United States Senate from 2005 to 2008 and served in the Illinois state senate from 1997 to 2004. He is known for his political leadership across state and national office.