Former US president Barack Obama is considered as one of the most influential and respected leaders in the world. Known for his calm leadership and ability to connect with people, Obama has also reflected great values of kindness, respect, and compassion in personal and public life. Now in a heartfelt reflection, the first African-American president has opened up about where these values came from. In a new interview with USA today, Obama shared about his mother’s parenting and the lasting impact it had on his life and leadership.The conversation took place as the former US president spoke about the new Obama Presidential Center in Chicago, and an area close to his heart. The special section is dedicated to his late mother, Ann Dunham. “It’s a fountain that’s designed where kids can run in and out of the fountain, and play in it and splash in it,” Obama said. “She loved kids.”
Photo credits: The New York Times
Barack Obama says his mother’s values shaped his presidency
“My mom didn’t live to see me as a president, but she was reflected in everything I did as president,” Obama says about his mother Ann Dunham, who passed away in 1995 at the age of 52. Reflecting on her influence and the values she gave him, Barack Obama says, “She was a kind person. Somebody who believed in doing things for other folks and not just thinking for yourself. A lot of those values of respecting people, regardless of their background and listening to them, and learning from them. I learned from her.”
Barack Obama’s childhood experiences shaped his values
Obama’s mother, Ann Dunham, was an American anthropologist from Kansas, while his father, Barack Obama Sr., was from Kenya. After his parents separated when he was very young, Obama was largely raised by his mother and grandparents. He spent his childhood experiencing different cultures. He has often spoken about how his mother encouraged curiosity, empathy, and education from an early age.Throughout his speeches, interviews, and memoirs, Barack Obama has repeatedly credited his mother for shaping his thinking and values. In a 2017 speech, he listed three values that his mom had shared with him:Be kind and be useful and caring about people who are less fortunate than youBe a peacemaker rather than an instigatorTry to lift people up instead of putting them downIn essence, the qualities of empathy, open-mindedness, and respect for others were first taught to him at his home.
Even if Ann Dunham couldn’t live to see her son become president, Obama reflecting on the values she taught him make it clear that her influence remained present in the way he spoke, led, and connected with people throughout his life. It’s a powerful example of how parenting can leave a lifelong impact on children.