Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

alp227

(32,027 posts)
Thu Dec 19, 2013, 03:56 AM Dec 2013

AP Interview: Obama's brother writes about abuse

HONG KONG (AP) — President Barack Obama's half brother is publishing an autobiography that details the domestic abuse that served as the theme for his earlier semiautobiographical novel, which featured an abusive parent patterned on their late father.

Mark Obama Ndesandjo also recounts his sporadic but intense encounters with his brother over the years in "Cultures: My Odyssey of Self-Discovery." The self-published book, to be released in February, also tries to set the record straight on some points in the president's bestselling 1995 memoir, "Dreams From My Father." In that book, Obama seeks to learn more about their father, a mostly absent figure, after learning of his death in a car crash in 1982 at age 46.

Ndesandjo's book comes four years after his novel, "Nairobi to Shenzhen: A Novel of Love in the East." As in his first book, Ndesandjo wanted to raise awareness of domestic abuse by using his family's story, although he said in an interview with The Associated Press on Tuesday that the president's relatives have not universally welcomed his airing of private matters in public. Ndesandjo spoke ahead of a news conference to launch the book in Guangzhou on Thursday.

When asked how he would describe his relationship with his brother, he said, "Right now it's cold and I think part of the reason is because of my writing. My writing has alienated some people in my family."

full: http://bigstory.ap.org/article/ap-interview-obamas-brother-writes-about-abuse

2 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
AP Interview: Obama's brother writes about abuse (Original Post) alp227 Dec 2013 OP
Not surprising, when the family member who discloses abuse chervilant Dec 2013 #1
Fascinating read.. and he does look like his half-brother, the President. KoKo Dec 2013 #2

chervilant

(8,267 posts)
1. Not surprising, when the family member who discloses abuse
Thu Dec 19, 2013, 07:06 AM
Dec 2013

becomes a pariah -- and the new stressor in the family dynamics...

KoKo

(84,711 posts)
2. Fascinating read.. and he does look like his half-brother, the President.
Thu Dec 19, 2013, 10:53 AM
Dec 2013

What an interesting background he has.

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»AP Interview: Obama's bro...