Barack Obama: Overcoming Barriers

This brief biography of President Barack Obama is aimed at middle and high school students who may not fully understand the significance of the United States electing its first African-American president. Beginning with a discussion of the history of slavery and racism in the United States, the film traces Obama's rise to leadership in the context of the greater civil rights struggle. Beginning with pre–Civil War America, significant figures such as Frederick Douglass and Harriet Tubman are introduced, while the concept of legal segregation and the resulting Civil Rights movement are also explained, providing context for the political climate in the nation during Obama's formative years. His overcoming of racial barriers is not the only focus here, as the program also looks at Obama's personal hurdles in trying to achieve his ambitious goals. Combining dramatic re-enactments, photographs, maps, and live footage from Obama's campaign and inauguration, Overcoming Barriers effectively underscores the reasons why Obama's election marks such an important milestone in U.S. history. Recommended. Aud: J, H, P. (E. Gieschen)