To most Americans, Barack Obama seemed to appear out of nowhere, fully-formed, in 2008. This rarely-seen footage from 1991-2004 captures lesser-known moments in the future president's life — as law student, community organizer, local politician, failed Congressional candidate, and Democratic nominee for Senate — and offers a glimpse into his political and personal roots.
1991 - Barack Obama: President of the Harvard Law Review
In 1990 Barack Obama was elected the first black president of the Harvard Law Review. This video from 1991, shot for a TBS black history minute features the young Obama telling the audience about Charles Hamilton Houston.
Source: youtube.com
1993 - Community Organizer in Chicago
Following Obama's graduation from Harvard Law he moved back to Chicago where he worked as community organizer and civil rights attorney. This clips comes from a 12 minute interview most of which has never been released.
Source: youtube.com
1995 - Author and Civil Rights Attorney
In 1995 Obama published his best selling novel, Dreams From My Father, a story reflecting on his life and race in the United States. This video, a 1995 interview on Connie Martinson Talks Books, features the young Obama detailing his book.
Source: youtube.com
In this little seen 1995 interview with Etopia News in Los Angeles Obama discusses his mother and father, and his own conception in the 1960s.
Source: youtube.com
