Family of Barack Obama facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Obama family |
|
|---|---|
|
|
| Current region | United States (Chicago / Washington, D.C.) |
| Place of origin | Kenya Hawaii Indonesia Chicago |
| Members |
|
| Connected families | Robinson, Dunham, Soetoro, Ng |
The Obama family is a well-known American family. They are famous for their work in law, education, and politics. Barack Obama was the 44th president of the United States. His family was the First Family from 2009 to 2017. They were the first African-American First Family. His immediate family includes his wife, Michelle Obama, and their daughters, Malia and Sasha.
Meet the Immediate Family
Michelle Obama: First Lady
Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama was born on January 17, 1964. She is an American lawyer and writer. Michelle served as the First Lady of the United States from 2009 to 2017. She is Barack Obama's wife. She was also the first African-American First Lady.
Michelle grew up on the South Side of Chicago. She went to Princeton University and Harvard Law School. She met Barack Obama while working at a law firm. Later, she worked at the University of Chicago. Barack and Michelle got married in 1992.
As First Lady, Michelle Obama became a role model for many. She worked to help people understand poverty. She also promoted education, good nutrition, and physical activity. She was known for her style and became a fashion icon.
Malia and Sasha Obama: Life in the White House
Barack and Michelle Obama have two daughters. Malia Ann was born on July 4, 1998. Natasha Marian, known as Sasha, was born on June 10, 2001. Both girls were born at the University of Chicago Medical Center.
Sasha was the youngest child to live in the White House since 1961. That was when John F. Kennedy Jr. arrived as a baby. In 2014, Time magazine named Malia and Sasha two of "The 25 Most Influential Teens."
Before becoming president, Barack Obama wrote a letter to his daughters. It was published in Parade magazine. He wrote that he wanted them, and all children, to grow up with no limits on their dreams. He wanted them to become caring women who help build a better world.
When they lived in Chicago, the girls had busy schedules. Malia took soccer, dance, and drama lessons. Sasha had gymnastics and tap dance classes. Both girls learned piano and tennis.
Malia and Sasha went to the private Sidwell Friends School in Washington, D.C.. Many children of presidents and vice presidents have attended this school. The Obama girls started there on January 5, 2009. Malia graduated in 2016. Before moving to Washington, both girls went to the University of Chicago Laboratory School.
The First Dogs: Bo and Sunny
After he was elected, President Obama promised his daughters a puppy. The family chose a Portuguese Water Dog. This breed was good because Malia is allergic to some animals. On April 12, 2009, they adopted a six-month-old dog. Senator Ted Kennedy gave them the dog as a gift. Malia and Sasha named him Bo. The White House called Bo the First Dog. In 2013, the family adopted a second Portuguese Water Dog named Sunny.
Malia and Sasha's Journeys
As a high school student, Malia Obama worked in television studios. She spent summers in 2014 and 2015 in New York and Los Angeles. In 2016, she interned at the U.S. Embassy in Madrid, Spain.
In June 2016, Michelle, Sasha, Malia, and Michelle's mother, Marian Robinson, visited Liberia. They promoted the "Let Girls Learn Peace" program. The United States provided $27 million to help. They met with Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, the former president of Liberia. She was the first elected female head of state in Africa.
Next, they went to Morocco. They had a discussion with actresses Freida Pinto and Meryl Streep. They talked about helping 62 million girls who cannot go to school. Then they traveled to Spain. Michelle shared more about the initiative there.
In August 2016, Sasha started working at a seafood restaurant in Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts. In the fall of 2016, Malia took an 83-day trip to Bolivia and Peru. In February 2017, Malia began an internship at a film studio in New York City.
In August 2017, Malia started attending Harvard University. Sasha graduated from Sidwell Friends in 2019. She then began attending the University of Michigan. Sasha later transferred to the University of Southern California and graduated in 2023.
Malia graduated from Harvard in 2021. She started working as a writer for the TV series Swarm. In 2023, it was confirmed that Malia was working on a short film. The film, called The Heart, was shown at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival. It was also shown at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival. Malia Ann was credited as the writer and director.
Images for kids
-
Barack Obama embraces his great-uncle Charles Payne, June 6, 2009.
-
Front row (left to right): Auma Obama (Barack's half-sister), Kezia Obama (Barack's stepmother), Sarah Hussein Onyango Obama (third wife of Barack's paternal grandfather), Zeituni Onyango (Barack's aunt) Back row (left to right): Sayid Obama (Barack's uncle), Barack Obama, Abongo [Roy] Obama (Barack's half-brother), unidentified woman, Bernard Obama (Barack's half-brother), Abo Obama (Barack's half-brother)
-
Auma Obama
-
Marian Robinson (second from right) makes an appearance with the rest of the immediate family of Barack Obama on the South Portico of the White House during festivities of the 2009 White House Easter Egg Roll
