On the road to the White House, Barack Obama has gone from an unknown senator from Illinois to a Democratic candidate to president of the United States. On that historic journey, Obama, and his family, have obtained a sort of celebrity status that people just can’t get enough of.
While the refreshment of seeing an educated Black man reaching such heights may turn heads, many can’t deny Obama’s appeal to the average man. He was the editor of the Harvard Law Review yet left the lure of big money to work alongside steelworkers in Chicago’s ailing workforce. He can hold a conversation with your grandmother and create policy in Washington.
Some say the je ne sais quoi, or certain something, Obama exudes stems from his multicultural upbringing. Born to Ann Dunham, a white woman from Kansas, and Barack Obama Sr., a Black man from a poor village in Kenya, Obama spent his childhood in Honolulu, Hawaii, and Indonesia.
“Hawaii is the place that gave him the ability to … understand people from a wide array of backgrounds,” said Obama’s half-sister, Maya Soetoro-Ng in an interview with CBS News. “People see themselves in him … because he himself contains multitudes.”
Add his funny sounding name, handsome looks and mega watt smile and you have Barack Obama the superstar.
The 44th president has also piqued the public’s interest due to the fact that many people simply didn’t see him coming. In 2004 he was speaking at the National Democratic Convention as a Senate candidate and now he’s the first Black president of the United States of America.
On that campaign trail, Obama was able to break records, draw crowds of thousands and turn red states blue. Those who were able to attend rallies saw people of all different races, genders and economic backgrounds come together to chant, “Yes we can!” A Barack Obama appearance could possibly be compared to a Michael Jackson concert with thousands of admirers screaming and crying.
For many Americans, Obama is the epitome of cool. He’ll smile, wave, shake hands and sign posters, but Americans also believe his strength and celebrity is kept in check by his wife Michelle Obama and daughters Sasha and Malia.
Obama’s family has tongues wagging about…everything. What will Michelle wear to this event? How was Malia’s first day of school? Have you seen Sasha Obama with her Ugly Doll?
Plus there’s nothing more celebrity than having both Oprah Winfrey, and Black Eyed Peas frontman Will.I.Am in your corner.
Both Democrats and Republicans alike have abandoned stereotypical views and stand behind Obama’s promises. There may be many reasons why Obama has shot to superstar status but all who love Obama can agree on one reason; his ability to bring hope to a hopeless country and the affirmation that anything is possible.
“He has energized a lot of people around the world,” said former Secretary of State Colin Powell.
