Barack Obama: 10 Interesting Facts About The Former President
By Autumn Hawkins
 August 4th, 2022
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DETROIT, MI - OCTOBER 31: Former President Barack Obama speaks during a drive-in campaign rally with Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden at Belle Isle on October 31, 2020 in Detroit, Michigan. Biden is campaigning with Obama on Saturday in Michigan, a battleground state that President Donald Trump narrowly won in 2016.
The 44th president of the United States of America, Barack Obama, was the first African-American president but throughout his time in office as well as before and after, Obama has been continuously making a difference. Through these 10 facts about Obama and his legacy, you’ll see that he is more than just the first Black president of the United States but the interests outside of the office and personal life shape his relatability, hard work, and love for America.

Take a look at 10 facts you might not know about Barak Obama:

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10. Barack Obama’s name has a special meaning.
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The name Barack means “one who is blessed” in Swahili.

(Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)
9. Michelle and Barack have a multi-year deal with Netflix.
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The deal was made back in 2018 between the streaming platform and the power couple. “Barack and I have always believed in the power of storytelling to inspire us, to make us think differently about the world around us, and to help us open our minds and hearts to others,” Mrs. Obama said per Essence. “Netflix’s unparalleled service is a natural fit for the kinds of stories we want to share, and we look forward to starting this exciting new partnership.”

(Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
8. He is left-handed.
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Obama is one of eight presidents that are left-handed. Prior to Obama's presidency, James Garfield, Herbert Hoover, Harry Truman, Gerald Ford, Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, and Bill Clinton are all left-handers.


(Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
7. He was the first Black editor of the Harvard Law Review.
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Obama was the first Black editor of the Harvard Law Review and was elected into the position in 1991. Obama attended Harvard Law School from 1988-1991.

(Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
6. He has two Grammys.
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Obama has won two Grammys for "Dreams From My Father" in 2005 and "The Audacity Of Hope: Thoughts On Reclaiming The American Dream" in 2007. Both memoirs won the category "Best Spoken Word Album."

(Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
5. He won a Noble Peace Prize.
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Obama won a Noble Peace prize in 2009 "for his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples."


(Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)
4. Michelle Was His Mentor.
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When the couple initially met, Michelle Obama was actually Barack's mentor at a Chicago law firm where they were apart of a summer associateship program together.

(Photo by Chris Hondros/Getty Images)
3. He has written four books.
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Obama has written four books, "The Audacity of Hope", "Dreams of My Father", "Change We Can Believe In", "Of Thee I Sing", and "A Promise Land." "A Promise Land" is the best selling presidential memoir of all-time.

(Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
2. Secret Service used to call the President “Renegade”
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Secret Service had a special moniker for the President and it was "Renegade." Obama got the idea from the 1989 film 'Renegades' that he used to enjoy watching on the "sleepless nights on board the Obama ’08 bus."


(Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
1. Being a father is one of his greatest accomplishments.
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Barack says through all of his achievements and accolades, his role as a father is his greatest feat. “Of all that I’ve done in my life, I’m most proud to be your dad.” Barack is the father to Malia and Sasha Obama with his wife Michelle of nearly 30 years.